Internal mammary artery graft to pulmonary vasculature fistula: a cause of recurrent angina

Recurrent angina pectoris developed in a 59-year-old man 3 years after coronary artery bypass grafting using the left internal mammary artery. Cardiac catheterization showed a fistula between the left internal mammary artery and the pulmonary vasculature. This is an unusual documented case of postoperative internal mammary artery graft to pulmonary vasculature fistula after coronary artery bypass grafting. Division of this fistulous communication resulted in resolution of the patient's angina.     

Internal mammary artery to lung parenchyma fistula after aortocoronary bypass grafting

Two unusual cases of internal mammary artery fistulization to lung parenchyma after coronary revascularization are reported. They were incidentally discovered during coronary angiography, and one of them was successfully closed with a percutaneous transvenous coil-spring occluder. The cause is thought to be the direct contact between the dissected mammary artery pedicle and the lung parenchyma.     

Internal mammary artery haematoma

Traumatic disruption of the internal mammary artery, which produces a well-circumscribed haematoma in the extrapleural plane and not a haemothorax, has not been described previously in English-language reports. Both blunt and penetrating trauma may be the cause. Ten such cases have been identified and verified by angiography.     

Internal mammary artery grafting to the circumflex coronary artery

The in-situ left internal mammary artery (LIMA) was anastomosed to the circumflex coronary artery (Cx) in 20 patients. The right internal mammary artery, the saphenous vein and the right gastroepiploic artery were also utilized to bypass the other coronary arteries. Sequential LIMA grafting to the diagonal branch and CX was performed in 2 patients. The sites of LIMA anastomosis were 15 obtuse marginal branches and 5 posterior lateral branches. All LIMA-Cx anastomoses were performed with single 8-0 polypropylene continuous suture technique. Mean number of distal anastomosis was 3.1 ranged from 2 to 4. Mean aortic cross clamp time was 68.5 minutes ranged from 42 to 87 minutes, and mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 116.6 minutes ranged from 73 to 167 minutes. One patient died of renal failure at 22nd postoperative day, and the other patients were alive with relief of angina. New Q wave was noted in 1 patient. Postoperative angiogram at mean 2.0 months showed 100% patency of LIMA in restudied 12 patients. We concluded that the in-situ LIMA grafting to Cx system can be done with acceptably low mortality and excellent patency rate, and its utilization is particularly desirable in younger patients.     

Traumatic aorta to pulmonary artery fistula

A case of chronic aortic to pulmonary artery traumatic fistula is presented and the surgical repair is detailed. Closure through the aorta is recommended; this approach provides a dry operative field and avoids the need for dissection of adhesions around the fistulous tract. Fistulae of this type are not common and the pertinent literature is reviewed.     

Post-coronary artery bypass grafting left internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula: a 6 year follow-up following successful surgical division

We report a case of young male patient who developed left internal mammary artery to pulmonary artery fistula 9 years following the coronary artery bypass grafting operation. The clinical signs and symptoms were very subtle including recurrence of angina and heart murmur. Surgical division of the fistula and re-grafting of blocked coronary arteries resulted in satisfactory long term outcome.     

Internal mammary artery to coronary artery bypass in paediatric cardiac surgery

The internal mammary artery is regarded as the optimal conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting in adults. Use of this conduit in paediatric surgery is rare and has been reported mainly in patients with Kawasaki's disease. We report five patients who required internal mammary-coronary artery grafting due to adverse anatomical disposition of the coronary artery. In two cases an internal mammary graft was required during correction of transposition of the great arteries. The other cases involved correction of a left coronary artery arising anomalously from the pulmonary artery. Late angiography shows satisfactory growth and patency of the conduits.     

Surgical repair of coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula with aneurysms

A 58-year-old female was referred to our hospital with an abnormal shadow on her chest X-ray. Further examination revealed the left anterior descending coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula with aneurysms. The patient was successfully repaired with operation and had no residual fistulas and aneurysms.     

Left pulmonary artery banding to repair ipsilateral diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous fistula

ABSTRACT: Congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) is a rare disease which causes hypoxemia by shunting deoxygenated blood from the pulmonary artery into pulmonary venous return. Lung transplantation is the most effective therapy to treat severe, diffuse PAVF. However, the availability of lungs for transplantation is limited in most parts in the world. For patients with diffuse PAVF affecting only one side of the lungs, ipsilateral pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is an effective treatment, but not yet standard of care. We report successful treatment of a patient with diffuse left-sided PAVF with PAB. We believe that PAB is an effective therapy for severe unilateral PAVF and may serve as a bridge to lung transplantation.     

Internal mammary artery perfusing the Leriche's syndrome

Two cases of collateral perfusion of a lower extremity, by way of an internal mammary artery, in the presence of Leriche's syndrome are described. The importance of recognizing this condition prior to coronary artery bypass grafting is emphasized.     

Traumatic arteriovenous fistula of the internal mammary artery

A rare case of arteriovenous fistula of the left internal mammary artery after blunt chest trauma is described. The patient was seen 3 weeks later because of a pulsating mass which varied in size, over the left midsternal area. Aortography and arteriography showed an aneurysmal sac draining into a vein in the left chest wall and then into the left axillary and neck veins. The fistula was ligated and excised followed by complete recovery. The literature is reviewed and differential diagnosis from congenital heart conditions, A-V shunts of other thoracic wall vessels, and vascular tumors is discussed.