Diagnostic Performance of a New Method for the Echocardiographic Assessment of Coronary Arteries Abnormalities

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Coronary artery anomalies (CAA) are a rare congenital condition, accounting abnormalities of origin, course, destination, size, and number of the coronary vessels. In normal hearts, the coronary arteries, the left and right coronary arteries (LCA and RCA, respectively) originate from the two facing aortic sinuses of Valsalva, so-called left and right. To overcome the echocardiographic limitations, the investigators designed, studied and implemented in our Institute a specific echocardiographic-based two-dimensional non-Doppler 4-views approach for the diagnosis of CAA.

Detailed Description
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The method consisted of 4-CAA-focused specific views, routinely available from any echocardiographic exam: parasternal short-axis (PSAX), parasternal long-axis (PLAX), apical 4/5-chambers views. PSAX, the traditional approach, along with the PLAX, and the apical 4/5-chambers views. A hallmark of CAA was considered the absence of a proper visualization of the origin of the coronary arteries from the aortic root. In addition, the presence of the ring sign, visualized from the PLAX was considered as abnormal. This sign is of interest when an aberrant left or right CAA is suspected. A coronary artery originating from the contralateral aortic sinus, along its intramural course, crosses the mid-anterior line of the circular aorta to reach the sinus of Valsalva of its intended origin. Consequently, its cross-section should be visible in an orthogonal view traversing the mid-long axis of the aorta, namely the parasternal long-axis view.

Official Title
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Diagnostic Performance of a Rational and Standardized New Method for the Echocardiographic

Conditions
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Coronary Artery Anomaly

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: Echocardiographic assessment of coronary arteries origin and proximal course


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: patients undergoing their first echocardiographic examination Exclusion Criteria: already known congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathies
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Congenita coronary abnormalities (CAA)<br>All the coronary arteries were differing from the definition of normal: when do not arise from the appropriate sinus of Valsalva (right or left) and not present a proper course and termination. | Diagnostic Test: Echocardiographic assessment of coronary arteries origin and proximal course<br>* Echocardiographic assessment of CAA utilizing 4 specific echocardiographic acoustic windows: parasternal short-axis (PSAX), parasternal long-axis (PLAX), apical 4/5-chambers views.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CAA | The number of coronary arteries anomalies echocardiographically detected | At the time of the routine echocardiography assessment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Echocardiography, Coronary arteries abnormalities, Coronary arteries anomaly, Coronary origin from the wrong sinus of Valsalva