Anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery associated with pulmonary hypertension.

This is a report on a 10-year-old child with anomalous origin of left coronary artery (LCA) from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), severe pulmonary hypertension (PH), old myocardial infarction and poor intercoronary collateralization. It discusses the echocardiographic pitfalls in this particular setting and introduces a new echocardiographic view (posterior pulmonary cusp view) for visualization of the anomalous origin of LCA from the posterior pulmonary cusp (PC) in patients with ALCAPA from the PC of the pulmonary artery. We describe three echocardiographic pitfalls that can mislead the echocardiographer and two helpful hints that guide the clinician to the correct diagnosis. The survival of this child shows that limited size of left ventricular myocardial infarction and severe mitral regurgitation in early infancy can result in a life-saving pulmonary hypertension which preserves viability and function of left ventricle despite lack of intercoronary collateral arteries. After one year follow-up, she is doing well on medical treatment.