Origin of the Right Coronary Artery From the left Sinus of Valsalva in a Donor Heart With Unsuccessful Repair

Abstract

Described herein is a 62-year-old man who had orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) because of severe heart failure secondary to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Because of continued symptoms of heart failure, a coronary angiogram was performed 3 years after the OHT and it showed anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) from the left sinus of Valsalva. As a consequence, an operation was performed to transfer the origin of the RCA to the right sinus of Valsalva. Unfortunately, the lumen of the RCA clotted off shortly after the operative procedure. Because of clinical evidence of rejection, the donor heart was replaced 4 years later providing the opportunity to study the previously transferred anomalous RCA.