Hoarseness as the initial clinical presentation of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery.
Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is a rare congenital anomaly that, if left untreated, will most often result in severe myocardial ischemia and significant morbidity and mortality. We report an unusual presentation of this defect in a 2-month-old infant who had an initial complaint of a "hoarse cry." We theorize that impingement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve due to dilatation of the pulmonary artery was the most likely etiology of the patient's symptoms. This case serves as an important reminder that serious congenital heart disease may present with any number of complaints and unusual findings.
Allen
D R
DR
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, PO Box 980026, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Schieken
R M
RM
Donofrio
M T
MT
D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D015199:Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000473:pathology