Left subclavian-left coronary artery anastomosis for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery

From 1972 to 1987, seven patients, from two to 28 months of age, underwent left subclavian artery-left coronary artery anastomosis for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk. All of these infants, median age 4 months, had severe congestive heart failure caused by anterolateral myocardial infarctions. There were two hospital deaths (29% mortality rate) with no late deaths after an average 10-year follow-up. All survivors have good exercise tolerance New York Heart Association class I), reduction in heart size, and significant improvement or normalization of ventricular function by echocardiography. Patency of the subclavian-left coronary artery anastomosis has been documented in two of four patients who have undergone catheterization. In contrast to other revascularizing procedures for treatment of an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery, anastomosis of the left subclavian to the left coronary artery may be performed without cardiopulmonary bypass or aortic occlusion. Moreover, this procedure appears to have an acceptable mortality rate with excellent long-term functional results in critically ill infants.