Q24: Other congenital malformations of heart

Q24.5: Malformation of coronary vessels

The heart is supplied with oxygen-rich blood via the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries are blood vessels that run around the outside of the heart.

For example, you may have a coronary artery that originates from a different blood vessel than normal. This means that the heart is often not adequately supplied with oxygen. You may also have a coronary artery that has dilated in one place. Blood may clot in the dilated area, narrowing the vessel. In this case, too, the heart usually has an inadequate supply of oxygen as a result. The coronary artery may also tear in a dilated area.

If the heart is not adequately supplied with oxygen, the myocardium may become damaged or die, often causing severe pain in the chest. When areas of the heart die, the heart sometimes stops working properly. You may then experience shortness of breath or a build-up of fluid in your body. In this case, the legs may swell up, for example. You may also be seriously ill.