Right coronary artery–to-right ventricle fistula complicating percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: case report and review of the literature

Intra-Right Ventricle Course of the Coronary Arteries on Computed Tomography Angiography

BACKGROUND

The clinical relevance and anatomic characteristics of intracavitary coronary arteries coursing within the right ventricle (RV) are largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to assess the clinical and computed tomographic characteristics of patients diagnosed with intracavitary coronary arteries coursing within RV (intra-RV coronaries).

METHODS

Electronic records from a single high-volume cardiac center were retrospectively screened for the presence of intra-RV coronaries among consecutive patients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (coronary CTA) from 2008 to 2019.

RESULTS

Overall, 31,748 coronary CTA reports were evaluated, and 17 subjects with intra-RV coronaries were identified. None of these patients was referred for subsequent invasive coronary angiography. One patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, 1 patient had a history of percutaneous coronary intervention, and 1 patient had a concomitant coronary anomaly: left circumflex coronary artery originating from the right coronary artery. All of the involved coronaries (n = 17) were the left anterior descending coronary arteries (LADs). Typical segmental coronary course within RV was along the border between free RV wall and interventricular septum (beneath interventricular groove), often within trabeculae carneae of the RV. Only the midsegment and distal segment of the LAD traversed within the RV. The mean ± SD distance from the aorta to the coronary entrance into the RV was 74.5 ± 17.1 mm, whereas the mean ± SD intra-RV coronary length was 25.1 ± 14.0 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

Intra-RV course of the coronaries in an adult CTA population is an infrequent anatomical variant involving LAD. It may require additional attention during interventional and surgical interventions.

Spontaneous closure of an iatrogenic coronary artery fistula during recanalization of a chronic total occlusion lesion: A case report

RATIONALE

Coronary perforation leading to fistula directed to the right ventricle is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The reported outcomes vary from a stable state to rapid deterioration.

PATIENT CONCERNS

An 86-year-old man was diagnosed with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction, and arranged to PCI procedure for the chronic total occluded right coronary artery (RCA) after coronary angiography. The guide wire went through the occluded lesion and got to the distal part of the suspected "post lateral artery", which later proved to be in the right ventricle (RV). After dilating with a 2.0 mm balloon, large amount of contrast medium leaked out from the lesion; therefore, we suspected a perforation into the pericardium.

INTERVENTION

Protamine was intravenously injected to convert the effect of heparin and the 2.0 mm balloon in diameter was dilated for about 1 h to obstruct the ejected blood flow shunting into the pericardium, but the leakage persisted. Nevertheless, the patient remained stable, and we were unable to detect an effusion in the pericardium.

DIAGNOSIS

By analyzing the angiogram and echocardiogram, we found that the contrast did not leak into the pericardium, but into the right ventricle (RV) chamber. An iatrogenic coronary artery fistula (ICAF) from the RCA to the RV was confirmed. We thus terminated the procedure.

OUTCOMES

Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography was performed 2 days after the PCI and no abnormal shunt was found. There was no abnormal Doppler signal in the RV, either. The patient was soon discharged, and there have been no complaints of discomfort during the 10-month follow-up.

LESSONS

ICAFs from coronary to the RV always have favorable outcomes. Even like the one in this case that caused medium leakage could seal spontaneously without any additional management. Echocardiography or coronary CT angiography could be chosen as imaging options to follow-up ICAFs.

Coil Embolization of Coronary-Cameral Fistula Complicating Revascularization of Chronic Total Occlusion

Traumatic vessel perforation is a potential complication of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI). A rare consequence of this complication is a coronary-cameral fistula. The management of this condition is not well elucidated. Herein, we present such a case of symptomatic left anterior descending to the right ventricle (LAD-RV) fistula which was treated with coil embolization.

Preoperative evaluation of coronary artery fistula using dual-source computed tomography

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the efficacy of dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) in assessing the morphological features, quantitative features, and associated coronary artery lesions among patients with coronary artery fistula (CAF) before surgery.

METHODS

We enrolled 34 patients with CAF that were morphologically and quantitatively analyzed by DSCT and compared the analyses with surgical results (reference standard). The associated coronary artery lesions were also assessed.

RESULTS

By DSCT, we identified 15 patients (44.1%) with left-sided CAF, 9 (26.5%) with right-sided CAF, and 10 (29.4%) with bilateral CAF; the left anterior descending coronary artery (50.0%) was most frequently involved. Drainage was most commonly in the main pulmonary artery (41.2%), and those with right-sided CAF had larger feeding coronary arteries and drainage sites than those with left-sided or bilateral CAF (p<0.05). All the morphological features presented by DSCT were confirmed at surgery. In the quantitative analysis of CAF, DSCT was as accurate as surgery (r=0.95-0.98, p<0.001), and it was able to evaluate associated lesions accurately, including arteriosclerotic plaques, coronary artery aneurysms, and myocardial bridges. The evaluation could be completed in a single scan, without requiring an increased radiation dose (mean ED=2.27±1.92mSv).

CONCLUSIONS

DSCT is an alternative noninvasive imaging method that enables accurate assessment of morphological features, quantitative features, and associated coronary artery lesions in patients with CAF. It can be used to provide comprehensive information for determining surgical strategies.

Coronary-Cameral Fistula Caused by Guidewire Trauma and Resolved by Coil Embolization

A 57-year-old woman presented with effort angina. A coronary angiogram revealed critical 2-vessel disease, for which she subsequently underwent percutaneous coronary intervention. During angioplasty, a coronary guidewire-inadvertently passed into the right ventricle through the septal branches of the posterior descending coronary artery-caused a coronary artery-to-right ventricular fistula. This fistula was successfully closed percutaneously by coil embolization. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a case in which a coronary artery-to-right ventricular fistula caused by a guidewire was managed successfully by coil embolization.

Optimal treatment of coronary-to-pulmonary artery fistula: surgery, coil or stent graft?

We report a case of a 57-year-old man with typical angina due to a coronary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula, which was evident on transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography with color Doppler flow mapping. The diagnosis was confirmed by coronary angiography. The patient underwent surgical ligation of the fistula. However, repeated transesophageal echocardiography and coronary angiography revealed persistence of the fistula with significant left-to-right shunt. The orifice of the fistula was then obliterated by stent-graft implantation, which was proven successful by angiography and echocardiography.

Multiple Coronary Artery Fistulae Communicating through a Sinusoid and Emptying into the Left Ventricle

This case report describes the occurrence of multiple coronary artery fistulae emptying into the left ventricle and includes a small communication into the left atrium. The initial diagnosis of a coronary artery fistula was made by standard and nonstandard transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiogram and Doppler interrogation. Later, multiple coronary fistulae communicating through a sinusoid and draining into the left-sided chambers were confirmed by angiography.