Two-dimensional echocardiographic visualization of the left coronary artery in anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. Pre- and postoperative studies.

Abstract

Three young children with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the pulmonary artery were studied by two-dimensional echocardiography. The LCA was shown to be in confluence with the left posterior aspect of th pulmonary artery root in the two patients studied preoperatively. In one of these patients, and in another patient 2 years after surgery, studied after direct surgical implantation of the LCA to the aorta, the LCA was shown to be confluent with the left anterior aspect of the aortic root. In all, the LCA could be followed beyond the branching point. This study demonstrates the feasibility of noninvasive diagnosis of anomalous origin of the LCA from the pulmonary artery by direct visualization with two-dimensional echocardiography.