Objectives: To analyze the reasons of missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis on anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) by echocardiography. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Patients with ALCAPA who underwent surgical treatment in Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from August 2008 to December 2021 were included. According to the results of preoperative echocardiography and surgical diagnosis, the patients were divided into confirmed group or missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis group. The results of preoperative echocardiography were collected, and the specific echocardiographic signs were analyzed. According to the experience of the doctors, the echocardiographic signs were divided into four types, namely clear displayed, vague/doubtful displayed, no display and no notice, and the display rate of each sign was calculated (display rate=number of clearly displayed cases/total number of cases×100%). By referring the surgical data, we analyzed and recorded the pathological anatomy and pathophysiological characteristics of the patients, and the rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis of echocardiography in patients with different characteristics was compared. Results: A total of 21 patients were enrolled, including 11 males, aged 1.8 (0.8, 12.3) years (range 1 month to 47 years). Except for one patient with anomalous origin of left anterior descending artery, the others were all originated from the main left coronary artery (LCA). There were 13 cases of ALCAPA in infant and children, and 8 cases of adult ALCAPA. There were 15 cases in the confirmed group (diagnostic accuracy was 71.4% (15/21)), and 6 cases in the missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis group (three cases were misdiagnosed as primary endocardial fibroelastosis, two cases were misdiagnosed as coronary-pulmonary artery fistula; and one case was missed diagnosis). The working years of the physicians in the confirmed group were longer than those in the missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group ((12.8±5.6) years vs. (8.3±4.7) years, P=0.045). In infants with ALCAPA, the detection rate of LCA-pulmonary shunt (8/10 vs. 0, P=0.035) and coronary collateral circulation (7/10 vs. 0, P=0.042) in confirmed group was higher than that in missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group. In adult ALCAPA patients, the detection rate of LCA-pulmonary artery shunt was higher in confirmed group than that in missed diagnosis/misdiagnosed group (4/5 vs. 0, P=0.021). The missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis rate of adult type was higher than that of infant type (3/8 vs. 3/13, P=0.410). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis was higher in patients with abnormal origin of branches than that of abnormal origin of main trunk (1/1 vs. 5/21, P=0.028). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis in patients with LCA running between the main and pulmonary arteries was higher than that distant from the main pulmonary artery septum (4/7 vs. 2/14, P=0.064). The rate of missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension was higher than that in patients without severe pulmonary hypertension (2/3 vs. 4/18, P=0.184). The reasons with an echocardiography missed diagnosis/misdiagnosis rate of≥50% included that (1) the proximal segment of LCA ran between the main and pulmonary arteries; (2) abnormal opening of LCA at the right posterior part of the pulmonary artery; (3) abnormal origin of LCA branches; (4) complicated with severe pulmonary hypertension. Conclusions: Echocardiography physicians' knowledge of ALCAPA and diagnostic vigilance are critical to the accuracy of diagnosis. Attention should be paid to the pediatric cases with no obvious precipitating factors of left ventricular enlargement, regardless of whether the left ventricular function is normal or not, the origin of coronary artery should be routinely explored.
Male ; Adult ; Infant ; Child ; Humans ; Bland White Garland Syndrome/diagnostic imaging* ; Pulmonary Artery/diagnostic imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Missed Diagnosis ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; Echocardiography ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies/diagnostic imaging*

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare coronary artery anomaly and double right coronary artery (RCA) is a very rare coronary anomaly. Because patients with ALCAPA usually die within 1 year of being born due to myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure, ALPACA is very rarely seen in adults. Here, we report an extremely rare asymptomatic case of MI, presumably caused by ALCAPA and double RCA, and provide a review of the literature. This is the first reported case of coronary artery anomaly that had both ALCAPA and double RCA.
Adult ; Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Camelids, New World ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pulmonary Artery

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is an extremely rare, potentially fatal, congenital anomaly with a high mortality rate in the first year of life. It occurs rarely in adulthood and may appear with malignant ventricular a rrhythmia or sudden death. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman with ALCAPA who presented with dyspnea on exertion. Management was coronary artery bypass grafting to the left anterior descending artery and obtuse marginal arteries, closure of the left main coronary artery ostium, and reestablishment of the dual coronary artery system.
Arteries ; Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Vessels* ; Death, Sudden ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Pulmonary Artery*

Coronary artery anomalies are often discovered incidentally during cardiac catheterization or computed tomography coronary angiography and may involve the affected coronary artery origin and its course. Coronary artery anomalies are associated with congenital heart disease. The affected coronary arteries may have an unusual high take off origin, origin from contralateral or non-coronary sinus, origin from the pulmonary artery, single coronary system or coronary artery fistula.
Bland White Garland Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo review the experience of left ventricular assistance device (LVAD) using for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) in perioperative period.

METHODSThere were 29 patients with ALCAPA underwent surgical repair from May 2006 to May 2013. The mean age was 6.5 months (ranging from 3.3 to 12.1 months). The mean weight was 6.2 kg (ranging from 4.1 to 9.5 kg). Diagnosis was established by echocardiography in all patients. There were clinical symptomatic of the severe heart dysfunction and ejection fraction were 23% to 45%. Mitral insufficiency was moderate to severe in 8 patients and less than moderate in others. Surgical methods included the intrapulmonary tunnel (Takeuchi procedure) of 4 cases, direct reimplantation of the left coronary artery onto the aorta of 6 cases and reimplantation by pericardiac patch enlarge of 19 cases. Valvuloplasty were performed in 5 patients with mitral severe insufficiency. Twenty-two patients were treated only by medicine therapy. LVAD was used in 7 patients: there were 3 patients with low blood pressure at the end of surgical repair and 4 patients with low cardio output within 24 hours postoperatively.

RESULTSPostoperatively, transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated that blood flow of the left coronary artery is fluently but left ventricular is also largement. The hemodynamic of 18 patients was stable in medicine group but 3 patients were sudden died of low cardiao output and ventricular fibrillation respectively. One patient was died of diffuse intravascular coagulation at the time of 72 hours after operation. The hemodynamic was stable in 6 patients in LVAD group and the devices after using time from 72 to 108 hours was taken down except one patient died of multi-organ dysfunction. The hospital mortality was 5/29 (17.2%). Nineteen survival (19/24) was followed up of 3.5 years (ranging from 1 to 7 years). Reoperations was performed for one patient with the supravalvar pulmonary stenosis due to the Takeuchi procedure 4 years postoperatively. Echocardiographic demonstrated that the blood flow of the left coronary artery are fluently. Mitral insufficiency was moderate in 2 cases, mild to moderate in 9 cases and mild in 8 cases. The ejection fraction value were 43% to 55% and apparent arrhythmia didn't occur.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough late results are satisfactory and left ventricular function always recovery, early mortality is higher even though the protective methods are carried out during the whole cardiopulmonary bypass procedure. In order to decrease the early mortality, heart function evaluation and LVAD should be used as an effective cardiac support technique to prevent heart failure in time.

Aged ; Aorta ; Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; surgery ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Perioperative Period ; Postoperative Care ; Prostheses and Implants ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; Reoperation ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUNDThe anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) and congenital left main coronary artery atresia (CLMCA-A) are two kinds of very rare coronary heart diseases which affect heart function profoundly. This study aimed to retrospectively illustrate the clinical features and therapy experience of ALCAPA and CLMCA-A patients.

METHODSFrom April 1984 to July 2012, in Beijing Anzhen Hospital, 23 patients were diagnosed with ALCAPA and 4 patients with CLMCA-A. We summarized the clinical data of the 27 cases and retrospectively analyzed the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, and treatments of these two kinds of congenital coronary abnormalities.

RESULTSThe 23 patients (13 males and 10 females, aged ranging from 2.5 months to 65 years) identified with ALCAPA were classified into infantile type (age of onset younger than 12 months, 16 cases) and adult type (age of onset older than 12 months, 7 cases). Four patients were diagnosed with CLMCA-A (three males and one female, aged ranging from 3 months to 2 years). The main clinical manifestations of infantile-type ALCAPA and CLMCA-A include repeated respiratory tract infection, heart failure, dyspnea, feeding intolerance, diaphoresis, and failure to thrive. And these two congenital coronary abnormalities might be misdiagnosed as endocardial fibroelastosis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and acute myocardial infarction. As for the adult-type ALCAPA, cardiac murmurs and discomfort of the precordial area are the most common presentations and might be misdiagnosed as coronary heart disease, myocarditis, or patent ductus arteriosus. In ECG examination: Infantile-type ALCAPA and CLMCA-A showed abnormal Q waves with T wave inversion in leads I, avL, and V4-V6, especially in lead avL. However, ECG of adult-type ALCAPA lacked distinct features. In chest radiography: pulmonary congestion and cardiomegaly were the most common findings in infantile-type ALCAPA and CLMCA-A, while pulmonary artery segment dilation was more common in adult type. In echocardiography, the common features of infantile-type ALCAPA and CLMCA-A included left ventricular enlargement, left ventricular systolic function normal or mildly reduced in CLMCA-A or significantly reduced in ALCAPA, and moderate to large mitral valve. It was performed in 9 of 23 cases of ALCAPA and showed the origin of the dilated right coronary artery (RCA) from the right sinus of the aortic root and absence of LCA origin in angiography. After opacification of RCA, reverse flow in the LCA and pulmonary artery was visualized through coronary artery collateral circulation. Angio was performed in three of the four cases of CLMCA-A and showed left main coronary artery was a blind end, with diameter of only 1.1-2.0 mm. Treatment and prognosis: 21 patients with ALCAPA had cardiac surgery and 6 of them died postoperatively. Fifteen postoperative patients survived without overt symptoms within the follow-up period of 6-166 months (median 17 months). As for treatment of CLMCA-A, four patients took digoxin and diuretics without undergoing cardiac surgery. Their clinical symptoms improved during the close follow-ups.

CONCLUSIONSALCAPA and CLMCA-A are two rare coronary artery abnormalities that affect cardiac function in infants and children. In younger patients with cardiomegaly and heart dysfunction these two congenital coronary diseases should be noticed.

Adult ; Aged ; Bland White Garland Syndrome ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; pathology ; surgery ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; surgery ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery ; pathology ; surgery ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: For the surgical management of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), there have been various techniques that reduce the tension and kinking of the coronary artery during reimplantation to the aorta. The aim of this study is to describe the results of our modified technique of coronary reimplantation for the treatment of ALCAPA. METHODS: Between October 2003 and February 2011, seven patients underwent coronary reimplantation with the modified technique (tubing formation with the sinus wall of the pulmonary artery and trapdoor formation at the site of implantation in the aorta). The median follow-up duration was 52 months (range, 4 to 72 months). Clinical outcomes and serial echocardiographic data were reviewed. RESULTS: There was no mortality. One patient had a small amount of cerebral hemorrhage postoperatively and improved without any sequelae. Another patient had left diaphragm palsy and underwent diaphragm plication. Follow-up echocardiogram showed that all patients had normal ventricular function without chamber enlargement. CONCLUSION: Our modified technique (tubing formation with the sinus wall of the pulmonary artery and trapdoor formation at the site of implantation in the aorta) demonstrated successful clinical outcomes. We conclude that this surgical technique can be a potential alternative for the treatment of ALCAPA.
Aorta ; Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diaphragm ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Mortality ; Paralysis ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Replantation ; Ventricular Function

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features and individualized treatment strategies for infants with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).

METHODData of 25 less than 1-year-old infants with ALCAPA who presented at Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute between 2006 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' cardiac function was evaluated with echocardiography during follow-up.

RESULTMost patients presented with symptoms of heart failure, such as tachypnea, diaphoresis, poor feeding, failure to thrive etc. Electrocardiogram showed abnormal q wave in 23 patients and ST-T segment change in 16 patients.Echocardiography showed dilated left ventricle in 25 patients, endocardial hyperplasia in 5 patients, dilated right coronary artery and extensive collateralization between the right and left coronary artery systems in 11 patients. The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was (45.5±13.9)% (25%-77%). The left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) was (22.0±7.3)% (12%-38%). Twenty one patients underwent cardiovascular CT scan. Left coronary artery originated from left posterior sinus in 9 patients, from right posterior sinus in 1 patient, from lower main pulmonary artery in 5 patients, from the bifurcation of main pulmonary artery in 1 patient.Five patients showed ambiguous left coronary artery origination.Sixteen patients were misdiagnosed in other primary or secondary hospitals in 17 patients who were transferred to our tertiary hospital, only 1 case who underwent angiography was diagnosed correctly. Two patients were misdiagnosed in 8 patients first-presented in our hospital. Their diagnoses were corrected after reexamining with echocardiography and cardiovascular CT scan. The preoperative therapies included using inotropic agents, diuretics and vasodilators according to cardiac function. Two patients underwent left coronary artery orifice ligation. Twenty three patients underwent reimplantation of left coronary artery to reconstruct dual coronary system. Patients of NYHA IV with moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) and NYHA III with severe MR underwent mitral annuloplasty. If LVEF was less than 30% after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, blood pressure could not be maintained with medication, or lactates increased progressively, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was demanded. Two patients showed low cardiac output syndrome immediately after surgical procedures, died from refractory ventricular fibrillation even with ECMO.In survived 23 patients during the early stage after surgeries, duration of ventilation was 7-500 hours, 11 of them were supported with ventilator for less than 60 hours. The mean length of hospital stay was (23.4±13.9) d (8-65 d). The follow-up duration ranged from 1-91 months (median 28.5 months). One case was lost to follow up. The patient died from infection 3 months after discharge. The cardiac functions of the remaining 22 patients were improved. The size of left ventricle of 14 patients recovered to normal. LVEF increased to the normal level in 20 cases. No patient underwent redo procedure.

CONCLUSIONThe accurate diagnosis can be made based on history, electrocardiogram, echocardiography and other imaging diagnostic tools.Individualized treatment strategy is helpful for seriously sick infants. Aggressive ECMO support can increase surviving rate for patients with postoperative low cardiac output syndrome.

Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; surgery ; Echocardiography ; Electrocardiography ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Humans ; Infant ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Perioperative Care ; methods ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; Retrospective Studies ; Ventricular Function, Left

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital cardiac disease with serious complications. This is a case of a three-year-old female who was initially diagnosed and managed as a case of dilated cardiomyopathy. A 2-D echocardiogram showed the left main coronary artery to be coming from the pulmonary artery. The patient was referred for myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (MPS) to determine viability prior to surgical revascularization. MPS showed absent myocardial perfusion in the apex and apical anterior segments and thinned-out perfused myocardium in the midventricular to basal anterior segment and apical to basal inferior and lateral walls. This is consistent with markedly reduced perfusion in the segments supplied by the anomalous left coronary artery distribution. While echo cardiography and angiography are used to diagnose ALCAPA, the roles of MPS are to provide information regarding the viability of the areas supplied by the anomalous left coronary artery and to assess postoperative myocardial perfusion.

Human ; Female ; Child Preschool ; Angiography ; Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; Echocardiography ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Myocardium ; Perfusion Imaging ; Pulmonary Artery ; Tomography, X-ray Computed

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), also termed Bland-White-Garland syndrome, is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly characterized by myocardial ischemia which becomes symptomatic during early infancy leading to infarction, left heart failure or even death. More than 90% of patients can be dead within first year of life if untreated, so adult type ALCAPA without surgical correction is quitely rare. We present a case of a 20-year-old man with ALPACA syndrome whose diagnosis took several years to be made because he was mistaken to have organic mitral regurgitation.
Adult* ; Bland White Garland Syndrome ; Camelids, New World ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Young Adult