Do myocardial bridges have to be operated on?

Myocardial bridges do not necessarily require surgical treatment, usually patients with symptoms or signs of ischemia need treatment, and most patients preferred drug treatment, drug treatment is ineffective or severe symptoms require surgical treatment. Coronary arteries are distributed on the epicardial surface, and occasionally a segment will travel within the myocardium, and this part of the myocardium overlying the coronary arteries is called “myocardial bridges”, which mostly occur in the left anterior descending branch. The vast majority of patients with myocardial bridges are asymptomatic and are often detected during coronary angiography, and these patients generally do not require excessive treatment. Symptomatic patients may have fixed obstructive coronary artery disease, and patients may present with myocardial ischemia-like manifestations, such as acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias, atrioventricular block, syncope, or sudden death. Pharmacological treatment is preferred for these patients, and first-line drugs include metoprolol tartrate capsules, ivabradine hydrochloride tablets, and verapamil hydrochloride extended-release tablets, which reduce heart rate and myocardial contractility. Surgical treatment should be used only in patients with persistent symptoms and proven ischemic changes, and in patients with high-risk factors (e.g., life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, attempted sudden death, or nonfatal myocardial infarction) in whom attempts at medical therapy have failed, with the preferred procedure being removal of the myocardial bridge under extracorporeal circulation. If a myocardial bridge is diagnosed, it is recommended to consult a medical professional for the most appropriate treatment.