Coronary artery changes 3 years after reimplantation of an anomalous right coronary artery

Abstract

In this paper we report the sequelae of a patient with an anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) originating from the pulmonary artery (PA) in association with a normal heart, operated upon at the age of 13 years. Three years after the end-to-side reimplantation of the RCA, with a rim of the PA, into the aorta, the surgical result has been evaluated by cineangiography. Before operation both coronary arteries were tortuous and increased in size. Afterwards the left coronary artery showed a normalized calibre, although the RCA remained tortuous with no decrease of the internal diameter. The notable postoperative changes in shape and size of the LCA may be due to the disappearance of the steal phenomenon. The lack of involutive changes in the RCA could be explained by its thinner wall. Left ventricular wall motion, evaluated under resting conditions and during an atrial pacing stress test, was found to be normal.