Cited 3 times since 2021 (0.9 per year) source: EuropePMC Interactive cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, Volume 32, Issue 1, 1 1 2021, Pages 122-129 The significance of symptoms before and after surgery for anomalous aortic origin of coronary arteries in adolescents and adults. Meijer FMM, Egorova AD, Jongbloed MRM, Koppel C, Habib G, Hazekamp MG, Vliegen HW, Kies P

Objectives

The aim of this study is to describe the significance of symptoms preoperatively and at medium-term follow-up in adolescent and adult patients who underwent surgery of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA).

Methods

Consecutive patients who underwent surgery for AAOCA in our tertiary referral centre between 2001 and 2018 were included. Clinical characteristics and symptoms were evaluated and medium-term outcomes were recorded. Symptoms were classified according to the '2019 ESC guidelines on chronic coronary syndromes'.

Results

A total of 53 (55% male) patients with mean age of 44 at time of surgery underwent surgical repair of AAOCA. Data on symptoms and events ˃3 months after surgery were available in 34 patients with a median follow-up of 3 years (interquartile range 1.0-5.3). Preoperatively, only 35% patients had typical anginal complaints. After surgical correction of AAOCA, 59% of the patients were free of symptoms, compared to 6% preoperatively (P < 0.001). A total of 3 (9%) patients needed a reoperation/reintervention related to the operated AAOCA. All 3 patients presented postoperatively with novel typical anginal complaints.

Conclusions

Adolescent and adult patients with AAOCA present with varying symptoms. Only 35% have typical anginal complaints. Surgical correction of AAOCA reduces the symptoms in the vast majority of patients. One should be aware of potential lesions of the operated coronary artery in patients presenting with typical anginal complaints postoperatively.

Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2021 1;32(1):122-129