Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery

Congenital defects of the coronary arteries are noted in 0.2–1.4% of the general population. The first case of an anomalous origin of right coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) was described by Brooks in 1885. ARCAPA has an overall incidence of 0.002% in the general population. Most of the...

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Main Authors: Muhammad Shabbir Rawala, S. Tahira Shah Naqvi, Kinaan Farhan, Muhammad Yasin, Syed Bilal Rizvi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Cardiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/2583918
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author Muhammad Shabbir Rawala
S. Tahira Shah Naqvi
Kinaan Farhan
Muhammad Yasin
Syed Bilal Rizvi
author_facet Muhammad Shabbir Rawala
S. Tahira Shah Naqvi
Kinaan Farhan
Muhammad Yasin
Syed Bilal Rizvi
author_sort Muhammad Shabbir Rawala
collection DOAJ
description Congenital defects of the coronary arteries are noted in 0.2–1.4% of the general population. The first case of an anomalous origin of right coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) was described by Brooks in 1885. ARCAPA has an overall incidence of 0.002% in the general population. Most of the cases are asymptomatic; however, it can lead to serious complications such as heart failure, ischemia, and sudden death. A 57-year-old man presented to the cardiologist’s office with complaints of shortness of breath and fatigue. The patient also had a previous history of coronary stents and heart failure. Initially, he was evaluated with a stress test which was reported as abnormal. The patient then underwent an invasive coronary angiography that revealed anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) and multivessel disease. Cardiothoracic surgery evaluated the patient and coronary artery bypass graft was performed. During the surgery, the anomalous origin of RCA from the pulmonary artery was identified and was successfully corrected by reimplanting the RCA into the ascending aorta. The anomalous origin of RCA is a rare yet life-threatening condition. The RCA due to its location of origin from the pulmonary artery tends to be a low-pressure vessel with a very thin and fragile wall. It also serves as a retrograde venous conduit from the left coronary circulation into the pulmonary artery. This connection results in a left-to-right shunt that explains the increase in oxygen saturation in the pulmonary artery and the high cardiac output which is normally seen in these cases. The clinical presentation can vary from coronary ischemia to heart failure or sudden death. Therefore, surgical correction is recommended even in asymptomatic patients. We present a case of an anomalous origin of RCA from the pulmonary artery which, unlike the origin of left coronary from pulmonary artery, is very rare. Patients with this condition should have early correction even if they are asymptomatic in order to prevent long-term complications.
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spelling doaj-art-c41f8b6fd2fe451699a660c71a6908992025-02-03T06:06:56ZengWileyCase Reports in Cardiology2090-64042090-64122018-01-01201810.1155/2018/25839182583918Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from Pulmonary ArteryMuhammad Shabbir Rawala0S. Tahira Shah Naqvi1Kinaan Farhan2Muhammad Yasin3Syed Bilal Rizvi4Department of Internal Medicine, WVU-Charleston Division, Charleston, WV, USADepartment of Medicine, Jinnah Medical & Dental College, Karachi, PakistanDepartment of Medicine, Jinnah Medical & Dental College, Karachi, PakistanDepartment of Internal Medicine, WVU-Charleston Division, Charleston, WV, USADepartment of Cardiology, Rapides Regional Medical Center, Alexandria, LA, USACongenital defects of the coronary arteries are noted in 0.2–1.4% of the general population. The first case of an anomalous origin of right coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) was described by Brooks in 1885. ARCAPA has an overall incidence of 0.002% in the general population. Most of the cases are asymptomatic; however, it can lead to serious complications such as heart failure, ischemia, and sudden death. A 57-year-old man presented to the cardiologist’s office with complaints of shortness of breath and fatigue. The patient also had a previous history of coronary stents and heart failure. Initially, he was evaluated with a stress test which was reported as abnormal. The patient then underwent an invasive coronary angiography that revealed anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) and multivessel disease. Cardiothoracic surgery evaluated the patient and coronary artery bypass graft was performed. During the surgery, the anomalous origin of RCA from the pulmonary artery was identified and was successfully corrected by reimplanting the RCA into the ascending aorta. The anomalous origin of RCA is a rare yet life-threatening condition. The RCA due to its location of origin from the pulmonary artery tends to be a low-pressure vessel with a very thin and fragile wall. It also serves as a retrograde venous conduit from the left coronary circulation into the pulmonary artery. This connection results in a left-to-right shunt that explains the increase in oxygen saturation in the pulmonary artery and the high cardiac output which is normally seen in these cases. The clinical presentation can vary from coronary ischemia to heart failure or sudden death. Therefore, surgical correction is recommended even in asymptomatic patients. We present a case of an anomalous origin of RCA from the pulmonary artery which, unlike the origin of left coronary from pulmonary artery, is very rare. Patients with this condition should have early correction even if they are asymptomatic in order to prevent long-term complications.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/2583918
spellingShingle Muhammad Shabbir Rawala
S. Tahira Shah Naqvi
Kinaan Farhan
Muhammad Yasin
Syed Bilal Rizvi
Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
Case Reports in Cardiology
title Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
title_full Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
title_fullStr Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
title_full_unstemmed Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
title_short Anomalous Origin of a Right Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
title_sort anomalous origin of a right coronary artery from pulmonary artery
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/2583918
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