Prevalence and characteristics of coronary artery anomalies in children with congenital heart disease diagnosed with coronary angiography

OBJECTIVE
Aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of coronary artery anomalies in children with congenital heart disease.

METHODS
Data of 1138 consecutive patients who were referred for cardiac catheterization and angiography for assessment of coronary anomaly between January 2005 and December 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Total of 515 patients whose coronary arteries could be examined through left ventricle and aortic root injection were included in the study.

RESULTS
Of 515 angiograms with visible coronaries, 42 patients (20 males, 22 females; mean age: 5.3±2.0 years) were found to have final diagnosis of coronary anomaly. Prevalence of coronary artery anomalies was 8.16% in this study. It was determined that 38 (90.4%) were anomalies of origination, 2 (4.8%) were anomalies of intrinsic coronary arterial anatomy, and 2 (4.8%) were anomalies of coronary termination. Most common coronary artery abnormality was anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left aortic sinus (16 patients; 38.1%), and the most common congenital heart disease was tetralogy of Fallot (18 patients; 42.9%).

CONCLUSION
Recognizing variability of coronary artery anomalies is critical when considering surgical or interventional therapies in children with congenital heart disease.