Resynchronization of Left Ventricular Contraction After Reimplantation of Anomalous Left Coronary Artery

Spontaneous resynchronization of dyskinetic segments of the left ventricle occurs after coronary bypass surgery in adults and has been shown in some children. It is, however, unknown what degree of dyskinesis is likely to be reversible in infants with ischemia from anomalous coronary arteries and what criteria would indicate that a resynchronization strategy of biventricular pacing might be needed.

These questions need data from quantitative serial tissue Doppler observations of patients from pre-operative to late post-operative follow-up.

We have previously studied, at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Egleston Hospital, 2 patients with ALCAPA and one other patient is currently enrolled in a prospective study after recent surgery, also at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. We propose to study these 3 patients with this rare defect concurrently with their routine echocardiographic evaluations. Data will then be taken off-line for analysis.

Standard deviations of times to peak contraction velocity will be assessed for twelve cardiac segments. These will be reevaluated at follow up intervals after surgery on previously obtained echocardiograms. Those subjects in whom improvement of cardiac function, Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) and mitral regurgitation is seen will be compared to those in whom no improvement occurs.

Cardiac pediatric patients

Inclusion Criteria:

• Re-implantation of an anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery

Exclusion Criteria:

• those patients who do not meet inclusion criteria