Cardiovascular Diseases and Cardiac Surgery

Overview

Elizabeth H. Stephens, M.D., Ph.D., pediatric cardiovascular surgeon, under the direction of Joseph A. Dearani, M.D., director of Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, discusses anomalous coronary artery unroofing, a surgical treatment for anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery.

In AAOCA, one of the coronary arteries arises from the aorta in an abnormal position. This condition may be found incidentally when a patient undergoes a CT scan for another reason or it may be encountered during a work-up for chest pain or other symptoms. While there is a range of presentations and consequences of the anomaly, in some cases it can cause ischemia and even sudden death.

Explore more Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Medicine Resources for medical professionals.