ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN INFANTS WITH ANOMALOUS ORIGIN OF THE LEFT CORONARY-ARTERY

Echocardiograms were performed on four infants with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. Common features included (1) a large, dilated, poorly contractile left ventricle, (2) posterior position of the mitral valve, (3) an abnormal pattern of septal motion with exaggerated septal excursion, (4) decreased excursion and delayed onset of posterior left ventricular wall contraction, and (5) an enlarged left atrium. These findings in infants are similar to those seen in adult patients with coronary artery disease. Septal motion was similar to the pattern described in adults with left bundle branch block. The characteristic echocardiographic features described are useful in both the diagnosis and the follow-up of left ventricular function of patients with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. © 1979 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.