Isolated Coronary Anomalies: Collected Reprints (1962-1993): Collected Reprints (1962-199

This volume collects 12 articles on isolated cardiac anomalies written by Dr. William C. Roberts and colleagues between 1962 and 1993. It is part of a series of collected reprints on various topics published in 2023.



From the Preface:

For decades an occasional coronary anomaly was observed at necropsy. I suspect that most were missed at autopsy. Origin of the left circumflex coronary artery from the right coronary artery or from the right sinus of Valsalva with retroaortic coursing to the left atrioventricular sulcus can easily be overlooked at autopsy without careful examination of the aortic-root area. Likewise, origin of both right and left coronary arteries from the same sinus of Valsalva is probably overlooked more often at necropsy than diagnosed. Coronary anomalies came to the forefront with coronary angiography in the 1970s when this procedure was required before coronary bypass could be performed. Today, it is essential that cardiologists be familiar with the many varieties of coronary anomalies so that corrective procedures can be performed in the right patients and not in the patients where corrective procedures would not be useful. To transfer a right coronary ostium arising from the left sinus of Valsalva to the right sinus is an unnecessary procedure, whereas transferring a left main coronary ostium to the left sinus may be lifesaving. These procedures are difficult and potentially hazardous, and no surgeon has extensive expertise in these operations.

-William C. Roberts, MD