Prevalence and characteristics of CAAs in the black sea region

Abstract

Aim: To date there has been no data about the prevalence of coronary artery anomaly (CAA) in the Turkish population of the Black Sea Region who underwent trans-radial coronary angiography. We aimed to determine the frequency and characteristics of CAA in our patients. Material and Method: All the coronary angiographies performed from September 2015 to September 2016 in our hospital were reviewed. Demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients were reviewed retrospectively from the patients' data set. A total of 1617 patient were included in our study. Results: CAAs were found in 73 patients (4.51%), of whom 41 (56.16%) had intrinsic coronary artery anatomy. Twenty-two (30.13%) patients had anomaly of origination and course and 10 (13.69%) patients had anomaly of coronary artery termination. The mean age was 59.35±11.86 in the study group and 60.11±6.61 in the control group. Myocardial bridge was the most common anomaly in our study with a prevalence of 2.16%. Absent LMCA was the second most common anomaly in our study with a prevalence of 0.80% and coronary artery fistula was third with a prevalence of 0.61%. Discussion: We found the prevalence of CAAs among the Turkish population of the Black Sea Region to be similar to previously published studies from our country. To avoid misunderstandings one must know the normal anatomy of coronary vasculature, variations, and the anomalies. When coronary angioplasty or cardiac surgery is planned in patients with CAA, special attention must be paid not to harm coronary arteries in unexpected locations.