Kugel’s Artery: Silent Bystander or Savior?

Abstract

Kugel’s artery is defined as a rare anatomical variant of the coronary artery vascular bed consisting of an anastomotic connection between branches of the right coronary artery (RCA) and/or left circumflex artery (LCX). Kugel’s artery has been reported to have an incidence of 6% in the general population. The presence of this anastomotic communication may play a pathophysiological role in a patient with a right dominant coronary circulation and an underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) affecting the right coronary system. Understanding the existence and significance of Kugel’s artery and the anastomotic network cannot be overemphasized. The presence of an anomalous vascular connection bypassing an area of epicardial vessel occlusion may be a lifesaving pathophysiological finding that maintains myocardial perfusion and viability. Herein, we present a case with multivessel occlusion myocardial infarction found to have anomalous vascular anastomosis between the proximal RCA and distal segment of the same artery.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Its Management: A Case Report

“…Diagnostic studies revealed a two-vessel disease with a critical distal left main spontaneous coronary artery dissection occluding approximately 90% of the vessel and a critical proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery stenosis (Figure 1 and Video 1 ). Incidentally, the diagnostic study revealed a Kugel artery which is a rare anatomical variant of the coronary artery vasculature with an anastomotic connection between the RCA and left circumflex artery [ 4 ]. Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery was consulted for emergent two-vessel coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).…”