Selective coronary angiography in patients younger than 1 year of age.

Abstract

Precise assessment of coronary artery anatomy is needed in congenital coronary malformations and acquired coronary obstruction in children. The aim of the study was to describe our experience of selective coronary angiography (SCA) in newborns and infants. One hundred and three patients younger than 1 year of age underwent SCA. Indications were preoperative screening for coronary artery lesions or anomalous pattern (41 patients), signs of myocardial ischemia (43 patients), surgical difficulties during the reimplantation of the coronary arteries without signs of ischemia (15 patients), and other indications (4 patients). Success rate of selective injection was 100% with no significant complication. In the presence of clinical suspicion of myocardial ischemia, abnormalities of coronary artery pattern was found in 17 of 43 patients. Precious information for the surgical management was obtained in 13 of 41 patients. SCA can be performed safely even in newborns and small infants. Skills in catheterization and knowledge about the coronary artery anatomy are needed to perform SCA.