Myocardial ischemia induced by anomalous aortic origin of the right coronary artery in a patient with atrial septal defect

Abstract

A 27-year-old woman with atrial septal defect (ASD) and a sensation of squeezing in the anterior chest by effort was admitted to our hospital. In addition to the ASD, the coronary angiogram showed an abnormal anomalous position of the right coronary artery. Exercise thallium (Tl)-201 cardiac scintigram with an electrocardiogram clearly detected myocardial ischemia in the inferior area. In the operative findings, the orifice of the right coronary artery was positioned high above the commissure between the right and left sinuses of Valsalva, and it ran between the aorta and pulmonary trunk. Considering myocardial ischemia possibly caused by the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery, a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was simultaneously performed to the right coronary artery with direct closure of ASD. The myocardial ischemic finding in the inferior area disappeared after the operation, and she was also relieved from the chest pain. In view of these findings, we suggest that an active combination treatment such as CABG and ASD closure is highly successful in a patient with a threatening coronary anomaly and congenital heart disease.