Anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery. Significance of saphenous vein bypass between aorta and left coronary artery.

Two forms of therapy for anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (“adult type”) were compared hemodynamically: (1) ligation of the left coronary artery and (2) insertion of a saphenous vein bypass graft between the aorta and the left coronary artery. In the former method, the mean and systolic pressures of the left coronary artery approached those of the aorta, but the essential diastolic pressure did not. After aorto-left coronary artery bypass, the left coronary pressure became equal with the aortic pressure. Blood flow through the graft was 200 ml. per minute. The postoperative course was favorable.