FREQUENCY AND ANGIOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CORONARY ARTERY ECTASIA INPATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY ANGIOGRAMS AT AFIC & NIHD

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and angiographic characteristics of coronary artery ectasia in the patient population of AFIC and NIHD.

Study Design: Descriptive Study

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases, Rawalpindi from Jan 2007 to Dec 2011.

Patients and Methods: All coronary angiograms done during the period were included in the study. The reports of coronary angiograms of those patients who were diagnosed to have coronary artery ectasia were left circumflex artery reviewed to assess the distribution of ectasia in different coronary arteries. Concomitant significant coronary artery stenosis left ventricular (LV) systolic function and history of revascularization were
also documented.

Results: Over the study period, a total of 41,459 patients underwent coronary angiograms. 548 (1.32%) patients were diagnosed to have coronary artery ectasia. Out of these 467 (85.21%) patients were males and 81 (14.78%) were females. Their mean age was 53.7 years. Left anterior descending (LAD) was the coronary artery, most commonly affected by ectasia followed by left circumflex artery (LCx) and Right coronary artery (RCA). Twenty three patients also had ectasia of left main stem. Four Hundred and three (73.54%) patients also had concomitant occlusive coronary artery disease and 19.52% patients had history of coronary revascularization either by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Conclusion: Coronary artery ectasia is not a benign disorder as it could present as acute coronary syndrome having its own morbidity and mortality.