Small left coronary arteries after arterial switch operation for complete transposition.
BACKGROUND
Myocardial perfusion is not completely normal and ventricular function is depressed in some patients after the arterial switch operation. The basic mechanism has not yet been defined totally.


METHODS
The diameters of the right, left main trunk, anterior descending, and circumflex coronary arteries were measured by computer-assisted densitometry at 8 to 86 months (mean, 47.5 months) after the arterial switch operation in 86 patients.


RESULTS
The Z scores, compared with control, were +2.0 +/- 0.3, -1.8 +/- 0.3, and -1.5 +/- 0.3 for the right, left anterior descending, and circumflex coronary arteries, respectively. The Z score for the total cross-sectional area of the three vessels was -1.5 +/- 0.3. These parameters did not correlate with left ventricular ejection fraction.


CONCLUSIONS
At the midterm follow-up after the arterial switch operation for complete transposition of the great arteries, the left coronary arteries are small. A careful follow-up study is mandatory to clarify the clinical significance of this finding.
Yatsunami
K
K
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Heart Institute of Japan, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
Nakazawa
M
M
Kondo
C
C
Teshima
H
H
Momma
K
K
Takanashi
Y
Y
Imai
Y
Y
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000601:surgery; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016276:Ventricular Function; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left