Coronary-pulmonary arterial fistula in the adult: report of 6 cases and review of the literature

Six new patients and 33 previously reported with coronary-to-pulmonary artery fistula were reviewed. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 51 years. A male predominance was found (65%). Angina was the most common symptom. The artery mostly involved was the left anterior descending coronary artery and the fistula drained more often to the main pulmonary artery. The left-to-right shunt is small in the majority of patients and the associated significant coronary artery disease was detected in 18% of cases. Good results of surgical closure of the fistula are usually obtained. An alternative to surgical treatment is percutaneous transcatheter embolization of coronary artery fistulas.