[Myocardial bridge of the coronary arteries and its clinical significance].

Myocardial bridge is a congenital anomaly of the coronary artery and appears on an angiogram as a systolic narrowing. Major coronary veins are rarely covered by myocardial bridges. The functional significance of coronary bridging remains controversial. Generally, bridging is not though to result in symptoms, as the coronary narrowing occurs during systole and most coronary flow occurs during diastole. Some authors reported this condition in association with angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The mechanism of ischemia, connection with atherosclerosis are not clear. The symptomatic compressive myocardial bridge is in itself an indication for operation by simple section of the bridge. But if there exist associated atheromatous lesions, the surgeon should combine aortocoronary bypass with section or coronary angioplasty.