Successful percutaneous coronary intervention in the setting of an aberrant left coronary artery arising from the right coronary cusp in a patient with acute coronary syndrome: a case report

BACKGROUND: An aberrant origin of the left coronary artery (LCA) from the right coronary cusp (RCC) is an extremely rare congenital anomaly. We here report on successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a patient presenting with acute coronary syndrome and an aberrant origin of the LCA from the RCC. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old man presented at our emergency department with recurrent resting chest pain. Following unsuccessful attempts at visualizing the left coronary artery using Judkins left and Amplatz catheters, an aortogram using a pigtail catheter suggested anomalous left coronary artery origin and showed a significant occlusive lesion at proximal left anterior descending artery. A Judkins right 4 guiding catheter was placed around the left coronary ostium and exchanged for a Judkins left 3.5 guiding catheter after introducing a .014" coronary long wire into the left circumflex artery. With excellent angiographic visualization and guide support, a drug-eluting stent was then successfully implanted. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) demonstrated left coronary artery origin from right coronary cusp. CONCLUSION: This report presents a case of LCA originating from the RCC accompanied with acute coronary syndrome that was treated with successful PCI.