Aberrant origin of the right coronary artery: diagnostic and surgical aspects

A 43-year-old man with angina for 15 years underwent coronary angiography, which showed an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left sinus of Valsalva with a 30-40% fibrous stenosis in the proximal part of the artery, which was presumably responsible for the patient's symptoms. Myocardial scintigraphy (Tc-99 m Cardiolite) suggested reversible ischemia at the apex and the posterior wall of the ventricles. After coronary bypass and anastomosis of the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) to the middle segment of RCA, the patient was asymptomatic; however, a postoperative myocardial scintigraphy indicated that the myocardial ischemia was irreversible.