Echocardiographic Diagnosis of a Right Coronary Artery-Coronary Sinus Fistula

In this case report, we describe a 67-year-old woman with right coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula. This woman had complaints of chest pain. Ischemic ECG changes and a ventricular tachycardia were detected on her electrocardiogram. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large right coronary artery and a dilated coronary sinus. Drainage of the coronary artery to the coronary sinus was detected by colour flow mapping during transesophageal echocardiographic examination, and a 94 mmHg peak gradient was recorded by continuous wave Doppler at the drainage site. These findings were confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography can provide definitive confirmation of the right coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula, and can be the diagnostic procedure of choice when this anomaly is suspected.     

Echocardiographic characterization of a rare type of coronary artery fistula draining into superior vena cava.

We describe an incidental finding of a rare type of anomalous coronary artery originating from the right coronary sinus of Valsalva and draining into the superior vena cava. This was suspected on transthoracic echocardiography but was further clarified with the use of coronary angiography and transesophageal echocardiography. Echocardiography was a major tool for delineating the origin of the fistula, its complicated course, and the drainage site.     

Transesophageal echocardiography follow-up of patients undergoing replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with a Cabrol procedure for chronic aneurysm and dissection.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography to detect complications after a Cabrol procedure. METHODS: A total of 28 unselected patients (mean age 52.2 +/- 13.3 years; 86% male) who survived a Cabrol procedure were examined with transesophageal echocardiography at a mean of 64 +/- 32 postoperative months. Underlying diagnosis was Stanford type A dissection in 11% of the patients and nondissecting aneurysm in 89%. RESULTS: Periprosthetic jet as a result of a valve leakage was demonstrated in 3 patients (11%). In 1 patient (4%) with infected aortic graft, a fistula between the periprosthetic space and the right ventricle was detected, requiring reoperation. One patient (4%) showed a complete occlusion of the graft limb of the right coronary artery but did not need reoperation. An aneurysm of the periprosthetic space with perivalvular leakage and persistence of periprosthetic right atrial fistula was visualized in 3 patients (11%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings encourage the use of transesophageal echocardiography for the follow-up of patients undergoing a Cabrol operation.     

Transesophageal echocardiographic recognition of a fistula between a coronary artery and the left atrium.

A 58-year-old woman with a prosthetic mitral valve and an anomalous single coronary artery received transesophageal echocardiography and was found to have a coronary artery--to--left atrium fistula. Because of its superior imaging quality, transesophageal color Doppler method is a useful diagnostic procedure.     

超声心动图诊断左冠状动脉右房瘘5例

【】目的:分析左冠状动脉右房瘘的彩色多普勒超声心动图特征,探讨超声心动图对诊断左冠状动脉右房瘘的价值。方法：应用超声心动图的二维图像、彩色显像和频谱多普勒观察左冠状动脉右房瘘的解剖异常及心腔内异常高速血流。结果：超声心动图均可见解剖异常的左冠状动脉显著扩张,走行迂曲,全程追踪显示瘘管,并于心腔内可见异常双期连续高速分流频谱,与冠状动脉造影及手术结果相符。结论：超声心动图对左冠状动脉右房瘘的诊断有很高直观性及实用性价值     

A prospective, randomized, blinded comparison of multiplane and biplane transesophageal echocardiographic techniques

Although multiplane transesophageal echocardiography has become an accepted diagnostic technique, there is a paucity of literature directly comparing the diagnostic yield of multiplane and biplane transesophageal examinations. This study was designed to compare the ability of multiplane and biplane transesophageal echocardiographic techniques to visualize intracardiac structures. Complete multiplane and biplane transesophageal studies were performed on each of 50 patients (100 total studies) referred to the echocardiography laboratory for elective transesophageal echocardiography. The biplane examinations were performed with a multiplane probe with angles only at 0 and 90 degrees. Images of 29 prospectively selected cardiac structures and valvular function parameters were scored as follows: 0 = not visualized, 1 = visualized well enough to identify structure, 2 = diagnostic quality, and 3 = exceptional quality. The scores for the individual structures were combined to identify total structure visualization quality scores for each of the imaging techniques. A separate subjective score was also determined to assess the overall adequacy of each study for addressing the clinical indication. The total structure visualization quality score was significantly higher for multiplane transesophageal echocardiography than for biplane transesophageal echocardiography (49 ± 7 versus 45 ± 7; p = 0.0001). Several individual structures were visualized significantly better (p < 0.05) by the multiplane technique, including the left upper pulmonary vein, fossa ovalis, left main coronary artery, and proximal ascending aorta. The subjective score of overall adequacy of the study for addressing the clinical indication showed a strong trend (p < 0.06) in favor of the multiplane technique, with higher scores in 11 of 50 multiplane studies versus three of 50 biplane studies when the two techniques were compared in individual patients. Therefore multiplane transesophageal echocardiography provides superior overall visualization of intracardiac structures compared with biplane studies, particularly for the left upper pulmonary vein, fossa ovalis, left main coronary artery, and ascending aorta.     

Fistulous communication between the right coronary artery and left atrium.

This report describes congenital coronary artery fistula of the right coronary artery draining into the left atrium in a young woman. The initial diagnosis of this rare anomaly was made noninvasively by echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography was vastly superior to transthoracic echocardiography in presenting the entire course of the fistula. The diagnosis was confirmed by coronary angiography. The fistula was successfully closed surgically.     

Contrast transesophageal echocardiographic demonstration of coronary artery fistula within left atrial appendage thrombus in mitral stenosis.

Coronary neovascularization and fistula formation arising from the left circumflex artery demonstrated by coronary angiography is a specific sign for the presence of left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with mitral stenosis. However, the fistula drainage site in the left atrium in relation to the thrombus cannot be ascertained by the angiographic method. We performed transesophageal echocardiography simultaneously with coronary angiography in five patients with severe mitral stenosis and left atrial appendage thrombus. The angiography showed coronary neovascularization and fistula arising from the left circumflex artery in three patients. In these three patients, the transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the presence of a coronary fistula by identifying contrast exuding from the surface of the thrombus. Thus we have shown for the first time the usefulness of contrast transesophageal echocardiography in imaging the exact drainage site of coronary artery fistula from left atrial appendage thrombus.     

成人冠状动脉瘘的超声心动图与CT血管造影影像学特征及诊断效能分析

目的分析成人冠状动脉瘘的超声心动图以及冠状动脉CT血管造影（CTA）表现特征，并探讨超声心动图与冠状动脉CTA对成人冠状动脉瘘的诊断价值。 方法回顾性选取2011年1月至2018年12月于海军军医大学附属长征医院就诊的疑似冠状动脉瘘患者30例。所有患者均行经胸超声心动图和冠状动脉CTA检查，并最终经手术或冠状动脉造影确诊。以手术结果或冠状动脉造影检查作为"金标准"，最终确诊冠状动脉瘘患者23例，非冠状动脉瘘患者7例。分析23例冠状动脉瘘患者的超声心动图和冠状动脉CTA表现特征，并对超声心动图和冠状动脉CTA诊断冠状动脉瘘的效能进行比较分析。 结果23例冠状动脉瘘患者中，超声心动图准确诊断20例，漏诊3例，其中2例为左冠状动脉-肺动脉瘘，1例为右冠状动脉-右心室瘘；冠状动脉CTA准确诊断22例，漏诊1例为左冠状动脉-肺动脉瘘。以手术结果或冠状动脉造影为"金标准"，超声心动图诊断冠状动脉瘘的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和准确性分别为86.96%、71.43%、90.90%、62.50%、83.33%；冠状动脉CTA诊断冠状动脉瘘的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值、阴性预测值和准确性分别为95.65%、85.71%、95.65%、85.71%、93.33%。超声心动图与CTA这2种方法的诊断结果分别与"金标准"比较，一致性均较高，Kappa值分别为0.757、0.911（P均<0.001）。 结论冠状动脉CTA和超声心动图2种影像学检查方法各有优势，对冠状动脉瘘均具有较好的诊断价值，可为冠状动脉瘘的诊断提供有效和可靠的信息和参考依据。     

Doppler Echocardiographic Features of Coronary Artery Fistula: Report of 8 Cases

Coronary artery fistula is a rare congenital anomaly in which the involved coronary artery empties into a cardiac chamber, pulmonary artery, or other structure. Its diagnosis can be made noninvasively by finding a dilated coronary artery by 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography, and its drainage can be detected by color flow mapping. We describe features of coronary artery fistulas in 8 patients whose condition was prospectively diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography with color flow mapping. The right coronary artery was involved in 4 cases and the left coronary artery in 4. Four fistulas drained to the right ventricle, 2 to the right atrium, and 2 to the pulmonary artery. In 1 patient who had left and right coronary fistulas to the pulmonary artery, only the first was diagnosed noninvasively. The diagnosis of coronary fistulas can usually be made by 2D echocardiography with color flow mapping. However, fistulas to the pulmonary artery may be more difficult to detect by 2D echocardiography because the coronary artery may be of normal size and the shunt small. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 1999;12:149-54.)     

胎儿冠状动脉瘘超声心动图诊断临床意义

目的总结冠状动脉瘘胎儿超声心动图特征及临床意义。方法对南京医科大学附属苏州医院2011年1月至2012年12月诊断为冠状动脉瘘的5例胎儿超声心动图特征及随访结果进行总结分析。结果5例冠状动脉瘘胎儿产前超声心动图特征：心尖四腔观及左心室流出道观声像图示冠状动脉扩张,追踪其走行,可发现心腔及大血管的瘘口分别位于左心室流出道主动脉根部、房间隔右心房侧、右心房上腔静脉入口处、右心室心尖部及右心室圆锥部。彩色多普勒超声显示冠状动脉内为高速湍流信号：频谱多普勒测得双期双向血流信号。其中1例合并其他心脏复杂畸形,1例合并永存左上腔静脉。5例胎儿中4例随访至产后,超声心动图检查证实新生儿为右冠状动脉瘘;1例胎儿引产后失访,未尸检。结论胎儿冠状动脉瘘有特征性超声心动图表现,产前早期发现对出生后患儿早期治疗有重要临床意义。     

Heart failure due to giant congenital aorto-right atrial fistula: report of a case

Coronary arterio-venous fistula (CAVF) is a rare coronary artery anomaly. We demonstrated the rare findings of a large congenital aorto-right atrial fistula with initial presentation of heart failure symptoms. Transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography made the accurate diagnosis. Further haemodynamic and angiographic study proved this large CAVF with extraordinary oxygen saturation step-up (26%) and large pulmonary to systemic shunt (Qp/Qs = 4.25). It was corrected by surgery because of evidence of heart failure and the possible risk of endocarditis and coronary steal effect.     

双平面经食管彩色多普勒显像观察冠状动脉瘘

本组经食管彩色多普勒显像发现冠状动脉瘘６例，其中左冠状动脉－肺动脉瘘１例，右冠状动脉－右室瘘２例，右冠状动脉－左室瘘３例。经食管彩色多普勒显像可显示冠状动脉瘘起始处扩张的冠状动脉、探查冠状动脉瘘的血管走行并确定冠状动脉瘘的引流部位，对冠状动脉瘘的诊断具有十分重要的价值。     

Successful surgical repair of a giant left main coronary artery aneurysm with arteriovenous fistula draining into a persistent left superior vena cava and coronary sinus: role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography

We report the case of a 74-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and pacemaker who presented to the hospital with new onset New York Heart Association class IV congestive heart failure. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a markedly dilated right ventricle with normal right ventricular systolic function. There was moderate pulmonary hypertension with an estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 60 mm Hg. Her echocardiogram 1 year earlier had demonstrated normal right ventricular size and systolic function, and no pulmonary hypertension. Additional transthoracic imaging with saline contrast study through a left peripheral vein demonstrated the presence of a dilated coronary sinus with a persistent left superior vena cava. Color Doppler demonstrated turbulent flow within the coronary sinus with evidence of significant left-to-right shunting. Cardiac catheterization revealed a massively dilated left main coronary artery aneurysm with an arteriovenous fistula into the left superior vena cava and coronary sinus. The calculated Qp/Qs was 2:1. The patient underwent 2 unsuccessful attempts at percutaneous intervention to occlude the arteriovenous fistula. She then underwent successful surgical closure of the coronary arteriovenous fistula. The important role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in guiding this technically challenging surgical case is discussed.     

超声心动图对冠状动脉瘘的诊断价值

目的 探讨超声心动图在冠状动脉瘘中的诊断价值。方法 13例经手术和/或冠动脉造影证实的冠状动脉瘘患者，回顾分析术前二维及彩色多普勒超声检查。结果 超声检查显示冠状动脉异常扩张，并能追踪观察其走行，部位，内径，大小，多普勒在瘘口附近可测及异常的血液。结论 彩色多普勒超声心动图诊断冠状动脉瘘及其合并畸形直接，完全，快捷，具有重要的临床价值。     

A case of coronary artery fistula diagnosed in the right decubitus position by transthoracic echocardiography

A 70-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for a continuous heart murmur in the fourth intercostal space at the right sternal border. Routine echocardiography demonstrated aneurismal dilatation at the origin of right coronary artery. These findings suggested a coronary artery fistula, although its drainage site could not be identified. By shifting the patient to the right decubitus position, we could observe an abnormal color Doppler signal going from the right coronary artery into the right atrium, confirming coronary artery fistula. The right decubitus position may be helpful for the evaluation of abnormal anatomic and auscultatory findings.     

彩色多普勒超声诊断冠状动脉-心腔瘘的图像特征分析

目的 探讨彩色多普勒超声诊断冠状动脉－心腔瘘的图像特征。方法 应用彩色多普勒超声的二维图像,多普勒频谱和彩色显像对10例冠状动脉心腔瘘的多种解剖异常进行观察。结果 彩色多普勒诊断的共同特征是：冠状动脉局部扩张,其中7例为右冠状动脉增宽,1例为左冠状动脉主干增宽,2例为左冠状动脉回旋支增宽;心腔内出现异常相对高速度血流,为瘘管血流入心腔所造成,其中漏入左室6例,入右 2例,入右室流出道1例,入冠状静脉1例;右安然无恙太动脉瘘管常沿右房室交界纡曲走行,左冠状动脉瘘管常沿左房室交界走行,局部可见瘘管的断面,介绍2例合并较大动脉瘤的超声图像。结论 彩色多普勒超声诊断冠状动脉－心腔瘘具有很好的直观性和实用性。     

Right coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula diagnosed by three-dimensional echocardiography

Right coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula is a very rare congenital anomaly in which a right coronary artery fistula drains into the right atrium, right ventricle, or pulmonary artery. A right coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula was diagnosed in a 44-year-old man by three-dimensional echocardiography and confirmed by computed tomography angiography and surgery. Relevant published experience in diagnosing this kind of anomaly is summarized.     

Precise evaluation of a complex coronary arteriovenous fistula: the utility of transesophageal color Doppler

The transesophageal color flow Doppler appearance of coronary artery fistulas have not been described previously. We present a patient with a fistulous connection between the right coronary artery and the right atrium with an additional connection to the coronary sinus. The fistulous connection to the coronary sinus, confirmed at operation, was only diagnosed with transesophageal color flow Doppler and missed on both transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. In addition, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography was extremely useful in confirming closure of both these fistulas, thus confirming a successful operative result.     

经食道心脏超声检测冠状动脉结构及血流速度60例报告

经食道心脏超声对60例患者检测冠状动脉。二维超声冠状动脉显像率为左冠状动脉主干95%,左前降支50%,左旋支37%和右冠状动脉82%。本组左冠状动脉近段直径显著大于右冠状动脉。冠状动脉记录到舒张期多普勒血流频谱者依次为91%、40%、27%和33%,少数冠脉亦可显示收缩期血流频谱。检测的冠状动脉血流速度峰值范围为0.20~0.72m/s。经食道心脏超声为冠状动脉近段解剖学和功能学的非创伤性诊断措施之一,具有潜在的临床实用价值。