What is the feasibility of imaging coronary arteries during routine echocardiograms in children?
BACKGROUND
Abnormalities of coronary artery (CA) origins may be associated with sudden death. No data exist regarding the feasibility of routine echocardiographic imaging of CA in pediatrics.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine the feasibility of imaging CA origins during routine echocardiograms.


METHODS
One hundred randomly selected children without clinical evidence of heart disease were studied. The mean age was 13.8 +/- 6.4 years. Location of CA origins were tallied with clock-face reference.


RESULTS
The left CA origin was imaged in 98% with the origin most commonly at 3:30 o'clock. The right CA origin was imaged in 95% with the origin most commonly at 11 o'clock. Four abnormalities of CA were discovered: right CA origin from the left coronary sinus n = 2, circumflex from right CA origin n = 1, and small left CA origin to pulmonary artery fistula n = 1.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that imaging of CA origins during routine pediatric echocardiograms is feasible with a potentially life-saving result.
Clouse
Michele
M
Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, USA.
Cailes
Colleen
C
Devine
Judy
J
Jordan
Mary
M
Lester
Joel
J
Lo
Linda
L
Shah
Maully
M
Wenger
Joanne
J
Stevenson
J Geoffrey
JG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values