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J Pediatr Intensive Care 2012; 01(02): 115-120
DOI: 10.3233/PIC-2012-019
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Anomalous origin of left main coronary artery from the right sinus of Valsalva leading to sudden death

Vinay Kukreti
a   Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
,
Kambiz Norozi
a   Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
b   Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
c   Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Medical School Hannover, Hannover, Germany
,
Edward Tweedie
d   Department of Pathology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
,
Erin Killorn
a   Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
,
Douglas D. Fraser
a   Department of Pediatrics, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
b   Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
e   Centre for Critical Illness Research, London, ON, Canada
f   Department of Physiology/Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
g   Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Publication History

27 July 2010

13 January 2011

Publication Date:
28 July 2015 (online)

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Abstract

A 14-year-old female was brought to the emergency room with chest pain, shortness of breath and cyanosis. She was previously well with the exception of one previous post-exertion seizure-like event. On this day, she had been jogging when she complained of chest pain and collapsed. Her initial vital signs were heart rate 58/min, blood pressure 70/40 mmHg, respiratory rate 50/min, temperature 37 °C, and SaO2 68%. Electrocardiogram showed significant ST changes. She received multiple fluid boluses and dopamine was initiated (5–20 μg/kg/min). She was intubated and started on norepinephrine (0.05–0.5 μg/kg/min) for refractory hypotension. During the resuscitation, echocardiography showed poor left ventricular function with an ejection fraction of 38%. The coronary arteries could not be visualized clearly. To maintain cardiac output, epinephrine by infusion (0.1–3.0 μg/kg/min) was added, and she received multiple epinephrine boluses. Despite maximum ventilatory support and escalating inotropes, cardiac output rapidly deteriorated, and she developed an agonal rhythm with non-reactive pupils. Resuscitation was discontinued. Autopsy demonstrated an anomalous origin of left coronary artery from the right aortic sinus of Valsalva with acute myocardial ischemia. We describe the sudden coronary death of a young patient, and we review congenital coronary artery pathophysiology, screening difficulties and potential interventions.

Keywords

Anomalous coronary artery - sudden cardiac death - coronary sinus