Key result
Untreated ALCAPA presents mostly in infancy and causes death in ~70% before age one.
Why the study?
Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery poses a diagnostic challenge because it can mimic common pediatric conditions such as colic, food intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux, and bronchiolitis. Greater awareness is needed to enable prompt diagnosis and referral for early surgical intervention.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Prompt recognition of ALCAPA in infants presenting with unexplained congestive heart failure, cardiomegaly, or angina-like symptoms is critical so that early surgical revascularization to a two-coronary artery system can prevent irreversible left ventricular dysfunction and death.
Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from pulmonary artery is a rare congenital heart anomaly. It presents predominantly in infancy with clinical features of myocardial ischemia and/or congestive heart failure. It poses a clinical diagnostic challenge to family physicians and pediatricians as it may present in a way similar to common pediatric conditions such as infantile colic, food intolerance, gastroesophageal reflux, and bronchiolitis. Awareness of this condition is essential for prompt diagnosis and referral to a cardiac center for early surgical intervention and improved prognosis. This article reviews this rare but serious disease in children.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Amer A Lardhi (2010) conducted a review in Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). Surgical revascularization to a two-coronary artery system (e.g., direct reimplantation, Takeuchi procedure, or bypass graft) was evaluated. Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery presents in infancy in 90% of cases and causes death in over two-thirds of untreated infants before age one.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: