Is myocardial bridging serious?
Myocardial bridges have traditionally been considered a benign condition, but recent studies have demonstrated that the clinical complications can be dangerous; these complications include acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias (including supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia), exercise-induced …
How is myocardial bridging treated?
How is it treated? In most patients, a myocardial bridge is not treated if it is not causing any symptoms. In patients with symptoms, medicines such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers are usually the first line of treatment. In rare cases, patients need surgery to relieve their symptoms.
What causes myocardial bridging?
Myocardial bridging occurs when the heart is malformed, with a bridge of muscle fibers overlying a section of a coronary artery, usually the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. When the heart beats, the artery is squeezed and normal blood flow is disrupted during both the pumping and relaxed cycles.
What is systolic bridging?
The typical description of bridging on angiography involves a systolic narrowing, or “milking,” of an epicardial artery, with a “step-down” and “step-up” demarcating the impacted area (Figure 1). As previously discussed, atherosclerotic lesions are frequently found immediately proximal to the bridged segment.
Can you exercise with myocardial bridge?
However, vigorous exercise can increase the risk of adverse cardiac events in those with symptomatic myocardial bridges and documented ischemia, thus a surgical approach may be beneficial in athletes who wish to return to full participation.
Is a myocardial bridge a birth defect?
A myocardial bridge (MB) is a congenital heart defect in which one of the coronary arteries tunnels through the heart muscle itself (myocardium). In normal patients, the coronary arteries rest on top of the heart muscle and feed blood down into smaller vessels (ex.
Can you Stent a myocardial bridge?
The patient remains free from angina and arrhythmias. To our knowledge, coronary stent implantation in myocardial bridging without angiographic evidence of arteriosclerotic lesions has been reported in only two patients who had acute myocardial infarction caused by the bridge.
Is a myocardial bridge considered a heart condition?
A myocardial bridge is a usually harmless condition in which one or more of the coronary arteries goes through the heart muscle instead of lying on its surface. Most bridges don’t seem to cause symptoms. However, some people with myocardial bridges can experience angina, or chest pain.
How many people have a myocardial bridge?
The reported prevalence of myocardial bridging ranges from 1.5% to 26%, with higher numbers reported in autopsy findings versus invasive coronary angiography studies.