Abstract
Myocardial bridge (MB) is one of the most common congenital anomalies in which the epicardial coronary artery segment is located intramyocardially and can undergo dynamic extravasal compression. In most patients, this coronary anomaly is asymptomatic. However, depending on the thickness of the myocardium over the coronary vessel and the length of the tunneled segment, the risk of adverse coronary events is likely: myocardial ischemia, acute coronary syndrome, arrhythmias and even sudden cardiac death. Numerous studies have been published in the recent past on understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for patients with MB. This review highlights some of the recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with symptomatic MB. We discuss the role of various noninvasive and invasive diagnostic techniques for assessing the functional significance of MB. In addition, the role of drug therapy, such as beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers; endovascular intervention using stents; and surgical correction of coronary circulation in patients with recurrent angina pectoris are presented.
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About the authors
- Bernara G. Kurbanova, Head of Department
- Leo A. Bockeria, Academician of RAS and RAMS, President; ORCID