Congenital coronary arteriovenous fistula

Treatment of a large congenital coronary fistula with coil embolization

A 77-year-old woman suffering from progressive dyspnea and chest pain for 2 1/2 years was admitted to hospital. There were no ECG changes at exercise test and a dobutamine stress echocardiography was normal. At catheterization, right-sided pressures were within normal limits. Coronary angiography revealed a congenital coronary fistula, 3-4 mm in diameter, from the left anterior descending artery to the proximal pulmonary artery. There was no significant rise in blood oxygen saturation in the pulmonary artery. Transcatheter coil embolization was performed in the distal part of the tortuous fistula. Flow ceased within minutes, demonstrating the feasibility and efficacy of this technique for treating large fistulas.

Characterization of intra-arterial flow velocity within left coronary to pulmonary artery fistula

The physiology of a coronary to pulmonary artery fistula has not been well characterized. This case report demonstrates the flow velocity pattern of a coronary fistula to the pulmonary artery which supports the hypothesized physiology that flow is predominantly continuous without a phasic pattern. The flow velocity within a coronary fistula has not been previously demonstrated.

Congenital malformations of the coronary arteries: the Texas Heart Institute experience

Coronary artery anomalies, some of which are considered clinically insignificant, can be associated with other congenital heart defects, myocardial ischemia, and reduced life expectancy. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the efficacy of surgical treatment in 191 patients who had a total of 202 coronary artery anomalies, which were classified as anomalies of origin (88 patients), termination (93), or distribution (10). Of the 88 patients with anomalies of origin, 60 had a coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery, 18 had a right coronary artery arising from the left anterior descending artery, and 10 had a coronary artery arising from the contralateral sinus of Valsalva. All patients with an anomaly of termination had a coronary arteriovenous fistula, and all patients with an anomaly of origin had a single coronary artery. The diagnostic and operative techniques for each of the defects are evaluated. Based on our experience, early diagnosis and surgical intervention can yield satisfactory results in patients with coronary artery anomalies, with most experiencing relief of symptoms. The operative procedures were associated with a low early and late mortality; in addition, few patients experienced complications.

Coronary arteriovenous fistula presenting as congestive heart failure

Coronary arteriovenous fistulae are rare, but can be of hemodynamic significance. We report a circumflex-coronary sinus fistula in an elderly man which was associated with a loud continuous murmur and congestive heart failure. Noninvasive evaluation, including transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging, suggested the diagnosis. Angiographic diagnosis of concomitant atherosclerotic coronary disease may be difficult, and can require postoperative study.

Coronary artery to left atrium fistula requiring revascularisation: case report and literature review

Only 12 cases of coronary artery to left atrium fistula have been reported, with successful correction in at least seven. We describe a unique case of repair of a left main coronary artery to left atrium fistula using revascularisation with general discussion of the embryology, pathophysiology, complications, and diagnosis of these fistulae, indications for operation, and guidelines for surgical management.

Surgical management of congenital coronary artery fistulas

Congenital fistulas are the most common of the coronary arterial malformations and with the widespread use of selective coronary arteriography are being recognized with increasing frequency. Twenty-eight patients with congenital coronary fistulas have been evaluated at the Duke University Medical Center between 1960 and 1981. An additional 258 patients have previously been reported in the literature, making a total of 286 available for review. The right coronary artery is most commonly involved, and the fistulous communication is most often to the right ventricle, right atrium or pulmonary artery. Slightly more than half of the patients with coronary fistulas are symptomatic at the time the diagnosis is made. Surgical correction is strongly recommended to prevent the development of congestive heart failure, angina, subacute bacterial endocarditis, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary hypertension, as well as coronary aneurysm formation, with subsequent rupture or embolization. There were no operative or late deaths in the patients who underwent operations. Moreover, there have been no recurrent fistulas during a mean follow-up period of ten years. The risks of operative correction appear to be considerably less than the potential for development of serious and potentially fatal complications, even in asymptomatic patients.

Congenital coronary artery fistulae: six new cases with a collective review

Primary congenital coronary artery fistula is diagnosed in two of every thousand patients investigated by angiocardiography. Males and females are equally affected and most frequently present under the age of 10 years. Fistulae originate from right and left coronary arteries in almost equal proportion but over 90% drain to the right side of the heart. Over half the patients present without symptoms but with a continuous murmur; as age increases so does the incidence of complications. Cardiac failure is the commonest complication. Three-quarters of patients presenting over the age of 40 have symptoms of cardiac failure. The clinical picture closely resembles that of patient ductus arteriosus but in a proportion of cases the physical signs and chest radiograph may suggest the diagnosis. A hitherto undescribed association of cardiac failure and a fistula from the left coronary artery to the left ventricle is reported. High-quality angiocardiography, preferably with selective coronary arteriography, is essential. Surgical correction carries a low mortality (2.2%) and is curative. The incidence of complications increases with age and prophylactic surgery is advocated before symptoms develop.

Congenital coronary arteriovenous fistula. Report of 13 patients, review of the literature and delineation of management

Thirteen new patients and 174 patients previously reported with coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF) were reviewed to delineate the course and management of CAVF and to clarify the role of surgical ligation in the young asymptomatic patient. Patients were grouped according to age: 99 patients (four new and 95 reported) were less than 20 years old and 88 (nine new and 79 reported) were greater than or equal to 20 years old. Of those under 20 years of age, 19% had preoperative symptoms or CAVF-related complications, including congestive heart failure (CHF) in 6%, subacute bacterial endocarditis in 3% and death in one patient. Seventy-six patients younger than 20 years old had CAVF ligation with only one significant complication. In contrast, 63% of the older group and all of our nine older patients had preoperative symptoms or complications, including CHF in 19%, SBE in 4%, myocardial infarction (MI) in 9%, death in 14% and fistula rupture in one patient. Of the 43 ligated older patients, 23% had surgical complications, including MI in three and death in three. Mean pulmonic-to-systemic flow in the entire group was 1.6:1 and did not differ significantly in those with or without symptoms or complications. One of our patients and one previously reported had spontaneous CAVF closure. In summary, early elective ligation of CAVF is indicated in all patients because of the high incidence of late symptoms and complications and the increased morbidity and mortality associated with ligation in older patients.

Fistulous communication between the left coronary artery and main pulmonary artery: a thirteen-year follow-up

A patient with a fistula producing a 2:1 left-to-right shunt between the coronary arteries and pulmonary artery followed for 13 years is described. The patient remained asymptomatic and without significant electrocardiographic, hemodynamic, or angiographic changes. Large collateral vessels were demonstrated on initial and repeat angiographic studies. This case illustrates the natural history of coronary artery to pulmonary artery shunts and suggests that surgery may not be necessary, even in the presence of a very large communication.

Unusual congenital coronary arterio-venous fistulae with surgical correction

A typical case of anginal syndrome in a fifty year old male has been described. The underlying lesion was congenital coronary arterio-venous fistula between the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery and pulmonary artery. Diagnosis has been made by coronary angiography and proved at operation. The patient underwent successful operation where a multiple fistulous ostia draining into the pulmonary trunk were obliterated by means of extracorporeal circulation. The pertinent literature related to this congenital anomaly and symptomatology has been reviewed.

Congenital coronary artery- cardiac chamber fistula. Review of operative management

Eight patients who had surgical correction of coronary artery-cardiac chamber fistula at our center and 163 from a review of the literature are presented. The patients are usually asymptomatic, and the diagnosis is suspected by observing a continuous cardiac murmur. Electrocardiographic findings are nonspecific. Angina pectoris or electrocardiographic evidence of severe ischemia are surprisingly uncommon since coronary artery steal syndrome is also rare. Cardiac catheterization with angiocardiography is required to establish the diagnosis and identify the involved coronary artery and the cardiac chamber into which the fistula terminates. Left-to-right shunt flow is usually low (average Qp/Qs = 1.5). Indications for operation are not precise. If there should be a large shunt flow (2.0) and symptoms of heart failure are present, the decision to operate is clearly justified. This situation is unusual, and operation is nearly always performed in an asymptomatic patient in whom the fistula is closed to prevent future symptoms or complications. The operation chosen is generally interruption of the fistula by direct ligation. Sometimes cardiopulmonary bypass is required. The results are good, with low morbidity (3.6% myocardial infarction) and low mortality (2%) justifying the operation, to be carried out prophylactically even in asymptomatic patients.

Pulmonary atresia or severe stenosis and coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula

Five patients have had the common features of pulmonary atresia or severe stenosis associated with a septal defect and a coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery (CA-PA) fistula. Four had pulmonary valvular atresia, and one had severe pulmonary stenosis. In all five, the CA-PA fistula contributed the principal component of the pulmonary blood flow. Cyanosis, continuous murmur, right ventricular hypertrophy, and decreased or normal pulmonary vascularity were frequent clinical manifestations, but angiocardiography was required to establish the diagnosis. The fistula was a side-to-side communication between the left coronary artery and the main pulmonary artery in each of the five patients. The dilated proximal coronary artery connecting the aortic root with the pulmonary artery gave a unique angiocardiographic appearance distinguishing it from truncus arteriosus or aorticopulmonary window. It is suggested that this unique angiocardiographic appearance be called an "aorticopulmonary tunnel." The surgical repair of this anomaly is closely related to that for severe tetralogy of Fallot and should involve a comparable risk and achieve a comparable result.