Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes of Patients With Late Presentation of Anomalous Left Coronary Artery From the Pulmonary Artery: A Multicenter Study

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2021;33(1):141-150. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2020.08.014. Epub 2020 Aug 25.

Abstract

We sought to describe the clinical course and outcomes of patients who are diagnosed with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) after infancy. We conducted a retrospective evaluation of patients who underwent ALCAPA surgery between January 2009 to March 2018 at 21 US centers. Clinical presentation, inpatient management, and postoperative outcomes of patients repaired ≥1 year of age were described. To characterize this cohort, we compared these data to patients repaired before 1 year of age. Of 248 ALCAPA patients, 71 (29%) underwent repair ≥1 year of age. Among this subset, the median age at diagnosis was 8.3 years. Chronic arrhythmia occurred in 7%. Patients had good postoperative recovery of left ventricle (LV) dysfunction (90%) and LV dilation (75%), although a low incidence of recovery of mitral regurgitation (40%). Compared to infants, older patients were more likely to present with cardiac arrest (11% vs 1%) and less likely to have moderate or worse LV dysfunction or mitral regurgitation. Older patients had significantly less postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use, and shorter ICU and hospital stay. In the older cohort, operative mortality occurred in only 1 patient and no patient died after discharge (median follow-up 2.7 years). Survival of patients who presented with ALCAPA beyond infancy was excellent, although chronic mitral regurgitation and chronic arrhythmia were not uncommon. Patients who underwent ALCAPA repair ≥1 year of age were less likely to present with LV dysfunction but more likely to present with cardiac arrest than younger patients.

Keywords: ALCAPA; Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery; Cardiovascular critical care; Congenital heart disease; Postoperative outcomes.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Anomalous Left Coronary Artery*
  • Bland White Garland Syndrome* / diagnostic imaging
  • Bland White Garland Syndrome* / surgery
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies* / complications
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Artery / surgery
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome