ALCAPA
Pronunciation: al-KAP-ah
Also written as: ALCAPA — Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery
Anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery, a rare congenital defect where the left coronary artery originates from the pulmonary artery instead of the aorta.
Full Definition
Anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart defect occurring in approximately 1 in 300,000 births. In this condition, the left coronary artery arises from the pulmonary artery rather than the aorta, resulting in poor oxygenation of the left ventricle. The condition is also known as Bland-White-Garland syndrome. Most patients present in infancy with heart failure, though some may survive to adulthood with collateral circulation. Surgical correction typically involves reimplantation of the left coronary artery to the aorta.
Usage
Usage note: Always spell out on first use in patient documents; avoid confusion with ARCAPA (anomalous right coronary artery from pulmonary artery).
In Context
- "The echocardiogram revealed ALCAPA with retrograde flow in the right coronary system." — Diagnostic report
- "Surgical repair of ALCAPA was performed using direct reimplantation technique." — Operative note