TRANSTHORACIC 3 DIMENSIONAL REAL TIME ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF (ALCAPA) ANOMALOUS LEFT CORONARY ARTERY FROM PULMONARY ARTERY

Abstract

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare butclinically significant form of congenital heart disease, usually causingmyocardial dysfunction and heart failure in infancy. Approximately 90% ofpatients die within first year of life if left untreated. Cardiac surgery (reimplantation of left coronary artery to aorta) is performed immediately afterdiagnosis. Usually the diagnosis is suspected on transthoracicechocardiography (TTE) and then confirmed by coronary angiogram. We aredescribing the use of real time 3 dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) forconfirmation of the diagnosis of ALCAPA in our 2 months old patient. The RT3DEimages were reviewed and appreciated by the cardiac surgeon. Patient hadsuccessful ALCAPA repair without being subjected to invasive procedure ofcoronary angiography.