Open Access
ARTICLE
Decision making in anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery
Carlos M. Mery1,2
1 Coronary Anomalies Program and Division
of Congenital Heart Surgery, Texas
Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas
2 Michael E. DeBakey Department of
Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine,
Houston, Texas
* Corresponding Author: Carlos M. Mery, MD, MPH, Division of Congenital Heart Surgery, Texas Children’s Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, MC 19345H, Houston, TX 77030. Email:
Congenital Heart Disease 2017, 12(5), 630-632. https://doi.org/10.1111/chd.12493
Abstract
Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is the second most common cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young athletes in United States. The exact pathophysiological
mechanisms of SCD are unknown. There is lack of long-term outcome data on repaired and unrepaired AAOCA and our current risk stratification scheme for these patients is suboptimal. These
patients are evaluated in a nonuniform manner across institutions in United States, and even by
different providers residing in the same institution. The main objective of this article is to use what
is known and unknown about this disease and to provide a possible framework that can help
workup and manage patients with AAOCA in a more consistent fashion.
Keywords
Cite This Article
Mery, C. M. (2017). Decision making in anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery.
Congenital Heart Disease, 12(5), 630–632. https://doi.org/10.1111/chd.12493