Anomalous Coronary Artery

Advanced Cardiac Imaging and Expert Care for ACA

Anomalous coronary artery (ACA) is a congenital (present at birth) heart defect that happens when the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart are abnormal. This could mean they have an unusual shape or size, or they may even be in the wrong location. These different types of ACAs are hard to diagnose because they may not even cause symptoms. Once symptoms begin, it takes experience to identify coronary artery anomalies

since they can be hard to see — even with the most advanced imaging — and other congenital heart problems are often present. At the Nemours Cardiac Center, our advanced cardiac diagnostic tests are backed by our wealth of pediatric cardiology expertise.

If your child has a heart problem, the sooner we can find out what’s going on, the better. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained pediatric cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons (specialists in surgical procedures of the chest, including the heart and lungs) can answer your questions, address concerns, and provide the latest treatment options for ACAs. The Nemours Cardiac Center offers your child research-backed care in a family-centered setting.

Services We Offer for Anomalous Coronary Artery

The expert teams in our Nemours Cardiac Center locations offer a full range of pediatric heart care to diagnose and treat coronary artery anomalies. Services vary by specialist and location, but may include:

Cardiac Diagnostic Testing. State-of-the-art, noninvasive and minimally invasive tests for kids of all ages, including babies still in the womb.
Cardiology. Your child’s cardiologist may prescribe medications that can help strengthen the heart, maintain healthy blood pressure, and may also use oxygen therapy.
Heart Surgery. In some cases, surgery may be the best option to repair the problem.
Preventive Cardiology. Your child’s heart specialist may recommend lifestyle modifications — including activity limitations, special heart-healthy diets, and long-term treatment plans to reduce strain and avoid future problems for hearts with ACA.

Why Choose Us for Anomalous Coronary Artery Care

World-class pediatric heart care requires the compassion to understand your family's journey. Our pediatric cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiac imaging experts work together to provide coordinated diagnosis and treatment of complex, difficult-to-diagnose conditions like coronary artery anomalies. The Nemours Cardiac Center teams are committed to delivering expert, compassionate care to children. We’ll work closely with your family to help your child live their life to the fullest.

Regional Anomalous Coronary Artery (ACA) Highlights

Services, programs, facilities and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.

Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia

Ranked in best children's hospitals for cardiac care.

We offer care for children with coronary artery anomalies at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (Wilmington, Del.) and select Nemours duPont Pediatrics locations.

The Nemours Cardiac Center located at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children is ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News and World Report.

Central Florida

We offer care for children with coronary artery anomalies at Nemours Children’s Hospital (Orlando) and select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.

Our renowned pediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery team at the Nemours Cardiac Center in Central Florida offers inpatient, critical and surgical care at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando.

You can also get state-of-the-art pediatric diagnostic heart tests and imaging at Nemours Children’s Hospital and at many locations throughout the region.

Northwest Florida

We offer care for children with coronary artery anomalies at Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Pensacola and our hospital affiliate, West Florida Healthcare, with outpatient and follow-up appointments also available at select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.

Our Nemours Cardiac Center in Pensacola is home to one of the few accredited pediatric transthoracic and fetal echocardiography labs in Florida and, if needed, can facilitate the transfer of extremely ill children between our Nemours Cardiac Center locations (e.g., to Nemours Children’s Hospital).