Cardiac arrest in an 18-year-old man caused by anomalous right coronary artery origin

An 18-year-old man presented to hospital following an out of hospital ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest, with successful resuscitation at the scene. The incident happened during a competitive football match in which the man was playing. In the course of an extensive work up, a CT coronary angiogram demonstrated an anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) origin in the left coronary sinus. The RCA followed an initial intramural and subsequent interarterial course between the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery trunk. Cardiac MRI showed a small subendocardial area of delayed gadolinium enhancement in the inferoseptal wall, consistent with a small infarct. Treatment involved elective coronary artery bypass of the RCA with a right internal mammary artery graft. The patient made a full recovery. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was not inserted and he was advised not to return to competitive sports.