[Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: report on 10 cases].
OBJECTIVE
The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital coronary artery abnormality. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.


METHODS
The medical data, including common clinical presentations, the findings of the digital subtraction angiogram (DSA), echocardiograms and the electrocardiograph (ECG), surgical records and the outcome, of 10 children with ALCAPA between June 2001 and February 2005 were retrospectively reviewed.


RESULTS
Diaphoresis, fantod, breathlessness and difficult feeding were commonly presented in the patients with ALCAPA. ECG, echocardiography and DSA examinations showed characteristic changes in these patients. The Takeuchi procedure was performed in 4 patients, direct aortic reimplantation in 4 cases and aortic reconstruction in 2 cases. After operation the symptoms of 8 patients were improved but 2 died.


CONCLUSIONS
ALCAPA patients have characteristic clinical manifestations and lab findings. This is helpful in making an early diagnosis of ALCAPA. Early surgical treatment can improve the patients' outcome.
He
Xue-Hua
XH
Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200127, China. he_xh101@163.com
Li
Yun
Y
Huang
Mei-Rong
MR
Gao
Wei
W
Li
Fen
F
Yu
Zhi-Qing
ZQ
Yang
Jian-Ping
JP
Zhou
Ai-Qing
AQ
D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery