A case of coronary artery fistula with angina pectoris

A case of coronary artery fistula with myocardial ischemia is reported. A 57-year-old-man was admitted to our hospital complaining of anterior chest pain on exertion. Submaximal Treadmill exercise showed the depression of ST segment in leads II, III, aVF, V5 and V6. 75% stenosis of right coronary artery (segment 2) and congenital coronary artery fistula originating from both the right and left coronary arteries were demonstrated by the coronary arteriography. One abnormal artery was originated from proximal portion of the right coronary artery (segment 1) and entered the pulmonary artery trunk. Another one was originated from proximal portion of the left coronary artery and terminated in angiomatous plexus which then communicated with the pulmonary artery trunk. We speculate that myocardial ischemia resulted from decreased right coronary blood flow due to coronary steal and proximal organic stenosis of right coronary artery. Recently, the reviews of coronary artery fistula are increasing, but coronary artery fistula with myocardial ischemia is relatively rare. This case was followed with medical therapy, because antianginal agents were effective. Operative coronary ligation may be necessary, if he has angina or high output heart failure during follow-up.     

Cardiac tamponade due to rupture of coronary artery fistula to the coronary sinus with giant aneurysm of coronary artery: usefulness of transthoracic echocardiography

A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of back pain and syncope. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed pericardial effusion, a collapsed right ventricle, a giant aneurysm connected to the coronary sinus, a dilated left main trunk coronary artery, and a dilated left circumflex artery (LCx). Furthermore, there was a coronary artery fistula arising from the LCx that drained into the coronary sinus. We diagnosed cardiac tamponade due to rupture of the coronary artery fistula or giant aneurysm, and successful emergency surgery was performed. Rupture of coronary artery aneurysm or coronary artery fistula is very rare. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography was very useful in our case for the diagnosis of cardiac tamponade, giant coronary aneurysm, and coronary artery fistula.     

经导管弹簧圈栓堵法治疗先天性冠状动脉瘘

目的　探讨经导管弹簧圈栓堵冠状动脉瘘的安全性和有效性。方法　总结我院 1999年 5月至 2 0 0 2年 12月 6例 38～ 70岁 (平均年龄 5 0 7岁 )的先天性冠状动脉瘘进行栓堵治疗的患者 ,其中冠状动脉瘘由左冠状动脉至肺动脉 2例、右冠状动脉至肺动脉 2例、右冠状动脉至右下肺静脉及双侧冠状动脉至肺动脉各 1例。结果　 5例 (83 3% )栓堵后完全闭合 ;1例因瘘管迂曲 ,导管到位困难而放弃介入治疗。无手术死亡及并发症。 5例患者经体检和超声心动图随访 3～ 4 6个月 ,无残余瘘 ,无复发。结论　经导管弹簧圈栓堵先天性冠状动脉瘘不用开胸 ,病人易接受 ,安全、有效、方便 ,可作为治疗冠状动脉瘘的一种方法。     

Bicoronary-pulmonary fistula with aneurysms of the left coronary artery

Bicoronary-pulmonary fistulae are extremely rare cardiac malformations with only ten cases reported. We describe the case of a 46-year-old woman who was referred to our hospital because of a continuum of subfebrile temperature between 37 and 39 degrees C. On chest X-ray there were no signs of right ventricular volume overload or pulmonary congestion, the electrocardiogram showed no abnormalities. Auscultation revealed a 3/6 systolic-diastolic murmur with maximal intensity in the second and third intercostal space at the left parasternal border. At catheterization a coronary-pulmonary fistula of the left coronary artery at the end of the proximal third of the anterior descending branch with an aneurysm of the left main coronary artery and the proximal part of the anterior descending artery was found. Additionally an abnormal conal branch of the right coronary artery was found draining into a venous convolute around the pulmonary artery stem. A left-to-right shunt of 15 percent was calculated. To our knowledge this is the first case report of such a combination of a bicoronary-pulmonary fistula.     

Atresia of the proximal right coronary artery in association with coronary artery fistula.

A 2-year-old boy presented for evaluation of a systolic murmur. Echocardiogram demonstrated dilated left main and right coronary arteries. Selective injection of the left coronary artery confirmed dilation of the left main and anterior descending coronary arteries. The left anterior descending coronary artery subsequently filled the mid portion of the right coronary artery retrograde, which emptied into a blind fistula. The orifice of the right coronary artery was atretic, with no filling from the aortic root or the fistula.     

Right coronary artery to left ventricle fistula associated with three-vessel coronary artery disease: a case report

Right coronary artery to left ventricle fistula is a rare type of coronary artery fistula among congenital coronary artery anomalies. Most patients exhibit no symptoms and some experience chest pain. Coronary angiography sometimes detects the presence of coronary artery fistula, but not coronary arteriosclerosis. A 76-year-old man with unstable angina was admitted because he did not respond to drug therapy. Coronary angiography showed three-vessel coronary artery disease and the contrast agent entered the left ventricle from the terminal of the right coronary artery during diastole. Multidetector-row computer tomography showed similar findings. The patient subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and obliteration of the coronary artery fistula. The chest pain was relieved and he is now in good condition.     

少见冠状动脉畸形18例

目的 :探讨 18例少见冠状动脉 (冠脉 )畸形特征及评价选择性冠脉造影在其诊断中的作用。方法 :对17例患者进行冠脉造影 ,13例患者进行手术纠正治疗。另 1例二维超声心动图误诊为动脉导管未闭 ,术中证实为右冠脉 -右室瘘。结果 :18例患者中共发现有 9种冠脉畸形 ,包括冠脉起源异常 2例 ;左冠脉回旋支缺如 1例 ;左、右冠脉 -肺动脉瘘 3例 ;左冠脉 -肺动脉瘘 3例 ;右冠脉 -右心房瘘 3例 ;右冠脉 -右室瘘 2例 ;右冠脉 -静脉瘘 1例 ;左冠脉 -右室瘘 1例 ;左冠脉 -左心室瘘 2例。其中 13例患者经手术治疗得到再证实。结论 :冠脉畸形是少见的先天性血管畸形 ,选择性冠脉造影是确诊的重要手段 ,需与先天性心脏病和冠心病心绞痛鉴别 ,术后效果良好。     

Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of congenital coronary artery fistula

The purpose of this study was to examine the advantages of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of congenital coronary artery fistula, specifically in depicting the origin, the course, and the drainage site. Seven consecutive patients ranging in age from 20 to 72 years with a suspected coronary artery fistula underwent conventional transthoracic and multiplane transesophageal echocardiographic studies between March 1993 and July 1994. When a coronary artery fistula was noted, the origin, the course, and the drainage site were carefully searched for. All patients then underwent a cardiac catheterization with the performance of coronary angiography. A large right coronary artery fistula was detected in three patients; one of them had a drainage to the posterior left ventricle, one to the lateral right ventricle, and the other to the medial aspect of the right ventricle just below the insertion of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve. A small coronary artery fistula arising from the left coronary artery was noted in four patients, two from the left anterior descending artery and the other two from the left circumflex artery. Three of these four patients had a drainage to the main pulmonary artery and one to the left ventricle. The drainage site was clearly depicted in all seven patients, whereas the origin and the course were precisely defined in five patients by using multiplane transesophageal echocardiographic examination. The multiplane transesophageal echocardiography provides a panoramic view of the coronary artery and the fistulous vessel with a precise definition of the origin, the course, and the drainage site of the fistula. Therefore it is the noninvasive diagnostic mode of choice.     

Recognition of left coronary artery fistula to the left and right ventricles by contrast echocardiography

A coronary-cameral fistula was inspected clinically by two-dimensional and pulsed Doppler ultrasound. At cardiac catheterization a fistulous connection between the left coronary artery and the right ventricle was observed. Contrast echocardiography using agitated saline solution injected into the aortic catheter clearly showed the passage of microcavitations into the left and the right ventricles confirming the connection of the fistula to both chambers. Contrast echocardiography is a valuable technique that can help define the site of drainage of coronary artery fistulas.     

A case of bilateral coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas associated with hepatic arteriovenous fistula

A 55-year-old man, previously treated for primary hypothyroidism, was admitted for evaluation of atypical chest pain. On physical examination, the pulse rate was 60 and blood pressure was 132/84 mmHg. Heart sounds were normal and no murmur was heard. Abdominal palpation showed no abnormal finding, and bruit was not heard. The electrocardiogram was normal and stress-induced ischemia was not found. The chest X-ray showed no sign of pulmonary hyperaemia or mass lesion, and central shadow was normal (CTR = 44%). During right heart catheterization, the pressures were normal in the cardiac chambers, pulmonary artery, and wedge position. A significant increase in oxygen saturation was disclosed at pulmonary artery level (10%) and the upper site of the inferior vena cava (22%). Coronary arteriography found coronary artery fistulas from the left main trunk, the left anterior descending artery, the left circumflex, and the right coronary artery to the pulmonary trunk. The left and right ventriculograms were normal. The digital subtraction angiography of celiac artery showed hepatic arteriovenous fistula. Ultrasonography and computed tomography found no mass lesion of the liver. Since combination of the bilateral coronary artery with pulmonary artery fistula, and hepatic arteriovenous fistula is very rare, the present case is worth noting for the investigation of the pathogenesis of congenital arteriovenous fistulas.     

Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistulas.

Transcatheter closure of a coronary artery fistula was undertaken in nine patients. There were three fistulas from the left circumflex coronary artery to the coronary sinus, three from the left anterior descending coronary artery to the right ventricular apex, two from the right coronary artery to the superior vena cava/right atrial junction and one fistula from the left circumflex artery to the pulmonary artery. The fistula was closed with Gianturco coils in six patients, a double-umbrella device in two and a combination of an umbrella and coils in one patient. All fistulas are completely occluded. Complications consisted of migration of two coils, one of which was retrieved, and a transient junctional tachycardia in one patient. In an additional three patients with multiple coronary artery fistulas, transcatheter occlusion was not attempted.     

Unusual presentation of a huge right coronary artery fistula; Technical issues with device closure

Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is considered an embryologic persistence of primitive intra-trabecular spaces which allow the developing coronary artery to communicate with the other cardiac chambers or vascular structures. It is observed in 0.05–0.25% of coronary angiographic studies, most of which drain into a right heart chamber or into the pulmonary artery, while a congenital right coronary artery (RCA) into a left heart chamber is less frequent.⁵ In this study, we describe an unusual case treated by closure device in the right coronary artery fistula to the left ventricle, and associated literature is reviewed. A 40-year-old female presented with chronic cough, otherwise asymptomatic. Echocardiogram revealed unusual flow into the LV with mild LV dilatation. A 64 multi-slice CT scan confirmed the presence of a huge right coronary opening with a fistula into the left ventricle. The decision was to close this fistula with device through the RCA into the left ventricle. The management of this unusually large fistula is described with focus on technical issues with device closure.     

Percutaneous occlusion by a detachable balloon of a fistula between the left coronary and the pulmonary artery

A large fistula between the left circumflex coronary artery and the distal branches of the right pulmonary artery resulting in myocardial ischemia in a 52 year old woman with no angiographic atheromatous coronary lesions, was occluded by a detachable balloon introduced percutaneously and positioned at the origin of the fistula. A control angiogram performed one month later showed the balloon in position and the disappearance of the fistula. The Thallium myocardial scintigraphic abnormalities regressed after occlusion of the fistula. This is the second case (the first one in France) of radical non-surgical treatment of a congenital coronary fistula.     

Coronary artery fistula from the left circumflex to the coronary sinus

A 27-year-old woman, who had received mitral valve repair for mitral regurgitation resulting from infective endocarditis, was admitted for a close examination of abnormal echocardiographic findings in the left atrium. Transthoracic echocardiography showed trivial mitral regurgitation with normal left ventricular contraction and dilatation of the coronary sinus. Auscultation revealed a grade 2 continuous murmur along the left sternal border. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a marked dilatation of the coronary sinus just behind the posterior wall of the left atrium and turbulent blood flow in the dilated coronary sinus. Cardiac catheterization showed no significant step-up of oxygen saturation in the right heart and normal pulmonary artery pressure. Coronary angiography revealed a markedly dilated and tortuous circumflex coronary artery connected to the coronary sinus through a fistula. A left circumflex artery with a fistulous connection to the coronary sinus is extremely rare.     

Congenital coronary artery fistula in an intercoronary communication between the left main and the diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery: An interesting case report

Intercoronary communication is a very rare coronary artery anomaly. It is defined as an open-ended circulation with bidirectional blood flow between two coronary arteries. Coronary artery fistulas are abnormal communications between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or major vessel. A 62-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with sudden development of general weakness, dizziness and a sensation of compression in his chest. At presentation his blood pressure was 80/40 mmHg and heart rate was 65 beats/min. The ECG revealed sinus rhythm and 1–2 mm ST elevation in the anterior leads. The patient was taken to the catheterization laboratory for percutaneous coronary intervention. The left main and left circumflex coronary arteries were normal. Coronary angiography showed a communication between the left main and the diagonal branch of the left anterior descending and a fistula between the intercoronary connection and the left atrium. The other coronary arteries were normal. Laboratory test results, including cardiac troponin I and creatine kinase–MB levels, were normal. The angina symptoms disappeared and the ST elevation resolved within four hours. We report an interesting case of congenital coronary artery fistula in an intercoronary communication between the left main and the diagonal branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery presenting as an acute coronary syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature involving a coronary artery fistula in an intercoronary communication.     

Successful transcatheter coil embolization of coronary artery to left ventricular fistula associated with absent pulmonary valve with tricuspid atresia in early infancy.

Transcatheter coil embolization for coronary artery to left ventricular fistula was successfully performed in a neonate. At 30 weeks' gestation, fetal echocardiography showed a hypoplastic right ventricle with intact ventricular septum, absent pulmonary valve, tricuspid atresia, and marked distension of the right coronary artery. After birth, the neonate had congestive heart failure and the electrocardiogram showed myocardial ischemic changes in the left ventricular area. Aortography showed a dilated right coronary artery arising from the ascending aorta and draining into the left ventricle. Transcatheter coil embolization was carried out on the 9th day after birth. Since the procedure, no myocardial ischemic changes have been detected. Transcatheter coil embolization is a useful therapy for coronary artery fistula associated with myocardial ischemia.     

Coronary artery fistula in children and adults: a review of 25 cases with long-term observations

We studied 25 patients with coronary artery fistula between 1976 and 1994. Age ranged from 1 to 58 years. Twelve patients were symptomatic; seven had dyspnoea, four had angina, one had palpitation and one had syncope. Coronary artery fistula involved right coronary artery in 10, left coronary artery in 11 and both right and left coronary arteries in four. Coronary artery fistula drained into right ventricle in 11, right atrium in nine, pulmonary artery in four and left ventricle in two. The Qp/Qs ranged from 1.0 to 2.6 with a mean of 1.39±0.38. Five patients had associated cardiac anomalies. Two had atrial septal defects, one had patent ductus arteriosus, one had atresia of proximal right coronary artery and in one patient, the right coronary artery was arising from left coronary artery. Five patients underwent surgery without any operative mortality. Thirteen patients were followed-up medically for a mean period of 6.1±5.1 years. There were no complications related to coronary artery fistula during follow-up. In one patient coronary artery fistula closed spontaneously.     

Coronary artery fistula: An unusual cause of chest pain in a young adult

Coronary artery fistula, usually congenital in origin, is an abnormal communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or great vessel [coronary sinus, pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein, or super vena cava (SVC)]. A coronary fistula can produce high‐output heart failure from volume overload and/or myocardial ischemia from coronary steal phenomenon. A 35‐year‐old man was found to have a large fistula from the left circumflex coronary artery to the SVC‐right atrium junction, an extremely rare anomaly. This patient developed right ventricular dysfunction and chest pain due to myocardial ischemia in the left circumflex coronary artery distribution for several months before evaluation. Because of the large size of the fistula, surgical ligation was chosen instead of coil embolization to close the fistula. The patient was free of chest pain postprocedure. Coronary artery fistulas, though rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a young patient presents with chest pain and/or heart failure. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Coronary artery fistula: Estimation of shunt using 99m Tc-Albumin particles

A 60-year-old man presented with complaints of angina pectoris and was found to have a coronary artery fistula between his left main trunk and main pulmonary artery. Particles of 99m Tc-Albumin were injected in the ostium of the left coronary artery, and differential radioactive counts were obtained over both lung fields and myocardium. The degree of left to right shunt was calculated at 56% of total left coronary artery flow. The patient underwent ligation of the fistula without any complications. This case report represents a new application of myocardial radioisotopic scanning.     

Acquired coronary artery fistula after open heart surgery for congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND: Most coronary artery fistulas were reported as congenital. Acquired coronary artery fistula occurring after cardiac surgery has rarely been reported. METHODS: From 1998 to 2003, 10 patients with coronary artery fistula detected by echocardiography after open heart surgery for congenital heart disease were included. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 41 years (median 4.2 years). The underlying heart disease was tetralogy of Fallot in five patients, ventricular septal defect in three, double chamber right ventricle in one, and transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect in the remaining one. RESULTS: Of these 10 patients, the coronary artery fistula originated from the left coronary artery in four, right coronary artery in two, and unknown origin in the remaining four. The coronary artery fistula drained into the right ventricle in nine and into the left ventricle in the remaining one. The incidence of acquired coronary artery fistula after open heart surgery for congenital heart disease was 0.44% (8/1832). The identified risk factors for acquired coronary artery fistula were reoperation and right ventricular muscle resection in ventricular septal defect. After follow-up for 0.5-12 years (mean 4.1+/-3.3 years), the coronary artery fistula persisted, but neither symptoms nor significant left-to-right shunt was noted. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired coronary artery fistula is a rare complication after cardiac surgery. Reoperation and resection of right ventricular hypertrophic muscle increase the risk of this complication. Although shunt flow did not increase during follow-up, the significance of acquired coronary artery fistula needs further investigation.