ALCAPA syndrome: a rare cause of sudden cardiac arrest in adulthood?-a case report.
Carolin Arnoldy, Paul Martin Bansmann
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 30-year-old woman experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. After resuscitation and stabilization, initial assessments showed no abnormalities. However, coronary CT angiography revealed anomalous origin of the left anterior descending artery from the pulmonary artery, confirming ALCAPA. Surgical revascularization was performed, and the patient was later fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, leading to a successful recovery.
What made this case unusual
The case is notable for the adult presentation of ALCAPA with sudden cardiac arrest in a previously healthy individual, which is rare and presents significant diagnostic challenges.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider ALCAPA in young adults presenting with unexplained cardiac arrest, as advanced imaging may reveal this rare coronary anomaly.
Why it matters
This case emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary approaches in managing ALCAPA and highlights the role of advanced cardiac imaging in diagnosing unexplained cardiac events in young adults.