Is there such a thing as coronary arteries with diameters below the norm in adults?

Question

And if so, what is the technical name for this? I had a heart cath procedure last week and the dr apparently found that I have "small" coronary arteries (I am guessing he means below the normal diameter for adults). I was still out of it apparently when he discussed the results with me and my daughter who was there with me cannot remember exactly what he said. I have a follow-up in two weeks and will discuss in more detail with him at that time but any info would be appreciated.

He did not say that the heart cath was abnormal. He said there were no significant blockages. This finding though had him change my medication from a beta blocker to nitroglycerin. I also have MVP with moderate mitral regurgitation. My mother now tells me that her father had a "small" vessel leading from the heart which caused his heart to become extremely enlarged. He ultimately had a valve replacement due to this but it was back in the 1970s and he is now deceased (from cancer not the enlarged heart.)

Answer 1

All coronary arteries which are significantly diseased have diameters usually smaller than normal ones.Did he say that you have an abnormal coronary angiography result? If so, maybe what he meant was that your coronary arteries are too small to undergo any needed intervention, such as angioplasty or coronary bypass.

Technically speaking, any coronary artery that is at least one mm (1mm) can be surgically bypassed. In the country where i practice(Philippines), most of the coronary vessels are smaller than their caucasian counterparts. so maybe some coronaries smaller than 1mm may still be treated.

I have also encounted some cases though, where the coronary arteries are are not blocked, but are unusually smaller than those of the normal population. This may be the cause of symptomatic chest pain. Some of them may be caused by just coronary vessel spasm. I am sure your cardiologist can explain this to you very well, as well as the treatment options.

I hope this info can help.

Answer 2

yes there is such thing. I know no name for it, just 'small coronaries'. It occurs in small petite adults. That's all I have ever heard about it.