title: Congenital coronary fistulas in children and adults: diagnosis, surgical technique and results.
abstract: Coronary artery fistula is a very rare congenital malformation with abnormal coronary-cameral communication that may involve any chamber and any or all coronary artery branches. We present our experience with 11 consecutive patients [mean age 16.6 years, ranging from 4 to 64 years]; 9 of them were treated surgically, spontaneous closure of the fistula was observed in one patient and one patient is still under observation. Fistulas originated from the right coronary artery in 4 patients and drained either into the right [n=3] or into the left system [n=1]. In 9 patients, the fistulas originated from the left coronary system and the fistulous communication developed with the right cardiac structures only. In 2 patients both coronary arteries were involved in the pathological drainage and 2 patients were demonstrated to have multiple drainage from the left coronary artery. Additional congenital cardiac malformations were found in 2 patients. Surgical closure of the fistula was successful in all operated patients [in one case treatment was possible without cardiopulmonary bypass]. Simple ligation of the fistula was performed in 1 patient, intracardiac closure of the fistula was combined with different reconstructive procedure in the other patients. Neither hospital mortality nor severe complications occurred. Mean follow-up interval was 39.4 months and all patients except one were in NYHA I. In presence of symptoms of congestive heart failure, significant left-to-right shunt and arrhythmias, elective closure of coronary fistula is generally accepted, whereas indication is more controversial in asymptomatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tkebuchava
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Von Segesser
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenni
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Arbenz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors