title: Doppler and 2D echocardiographic diagnosis of congenital coronary artery fistulae to the right cardiac chambers: report of 3 cases.
abstract: We present three cases of coronary artery fistulae to the right cardiac chambers. The first was a 2-day-old neonate in congestive heart failure: 2D and Doppler echocardiography revealed a dilated proximal left coronary artery and a fistulous connection to the right atrium. The other two patients, respectively 4 and 3 years old, were asymptomatic and presented with a continuous heart murmur: a left coronary artery fistula into the right ventricle was detected by ultrasound in one, and a dilated proximal right coronary artery in the other. The diagnosis was confirmed in all three patients. The first patient was operated upon at 18 months of age; the second patient is awaiting surgery, and in the third patient the fistula was ligated at the age of 3 years. The possibility of ultrasound diagnosis without invasive procedures is suggested.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Cardiology Unit, University of Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bosi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Milanesi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scorrano
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pellegrino
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lintermans
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000002:abnormalities; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn