Selective coronary angiography in patients younger than 1 year of age

Precise assessment of coronary artery anatomy is needed in congenital coron ary malformations and acquired coronary obstruction in children. The aim of the study was to describe our experience of selective coronary angiography (SCA) in newborns and infants. One hundred and three patients younger than 1 year of age underwent SCA. Indications were preoperative screening for c oronary artery lesions or anomalous pattern (41 patients), signs of myocard ial ischemia (43 patients), surgical difficulties during the reimplantation of the coronary arteries without signs of ischemia (15 patients), and othe r indications (4 patients). Success rate of selective injection was 100% wi th no significant complication. In the presence of clinical suspicion of my ocardial ischemia, abnormalities of coronary artery pattern was found in 17 of 43 patients. Precious information for the surgical management was obtai ned in 13 of 41 patients. SCA can be performed safely even in newborns and small infants. Skills in catheterization and knowledge about the coronary a rtery anatomy are needed to perform SCA. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.