How serious is anomalous coronary artery?

While most people with an anomalous coronary artery aren’t in danger, the problem can be very dangerous for some. Sometimes people don’t have symptoms until they have a sudden cardiac arrest. Fortunately, several surgical options can protect you from sudden death and help you have a normal life.

Is a blocked artery serious?

Blocked arteries can cause serious problems if they prevent blood from reaching vital parts of the body such as the heart or brain. However, the symptoms of blocked arteries aren’t always obvious until they cause a life-threatening issue such as a heart attack or stroke.

What is anomalous coronary artery?

An anomalous coronary artery (ACA) is a coronary artery that has an abnormality or malformation. The malformation is congenital (present at birth) and is most often related to the origin or location of the coronary artery. However, there may be other defective areas in the coronary artery.

How is anomalous coronary artery treated?

To treat this condition, your doctor can use angioplasty and a stent to fix the artery. The procedure is done with a thin, flexible tube (catheter) that has a tiny balloon at its tip. The catheter is put into a blood vessel in the groin or wrist. It’s then gently advanced to the coronary artery.

What is anomalous left coronary artery?

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a congenital (present at birth) heart defect in which the left coronary artery arises abnormally from the pulmonary artery. Normally, the left and right coronary arteries arise from the aorta and supply blood with oxygen to the heart.

What causes a blocked artery?

What Causes Clogged Arteries? Clogged arteries are caused by a buildup of plaque in your arteries. Plaque is usually made up of a few substances, including minerals like calcium, or fats and cholesterol. High cholesterol levels can lead to this buildup of plaques.

How is coronary artery disease causes?

Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque buildup in the wall of the arteries that supply blood to the heart (called coronary arteries). Plaque is made up of cholesterol deposits. Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time. This process is called atherosclerosis.

How do you manage Anomalous coronary arteries?

There are several surgical options for treating AAOCA, namely unroofing the intramural segment, including creation of “neo-ostium” in the appropriate sinus, translocation of ostium (i.e., reimplantation), translocation of PA, pericardial patch of the aorta and proximal anomalous coronary artery, either alone or in …

Which coronary artery is considered the Widow Maker?

A widowmaker is an informal term for a heart attack that involves 100 percent blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, says Stanley Chetcuti, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center.

What is RCA surgery?

What is anomalous coronary artery intervention? Anomalous coronary artery intervention is a procedure to correct a problem with the coronary artery. An anomalous coronary artery may have an irregularity with its starting point, course, shape, or branching. The specific problem may cause the artery to be blocked.