title: Prenatal diagnosis and perinatal management of left coronary artery to right atrium fistula.
abstract: Serious complications due to coronary artery fistulae have been described. Most authors recommend early intervention at the time of diagnosis. We present a case of a fistula originating from a dilated left coronary artery and draining into the right atrium, which was diagnosed prenatally by color Doppler echocardiography. During pregnancy, the echocardiographic findings remained unchanged, and there were no signs of heart failure. After birth, the fistula was confirmed by angiography. Additionally, a persistent left superior vena cava draining into the coronary sinus and a very small ventricular septal defect were detected. The fistula was closed successfully by transcatheter coil embolization. At 17 months old the child was in good clinical condition. Prenatal diagnosis of coronary artery fistulae may be possible and may improve perinatal management and outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tuebingen, Germany. grmielke@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mielke
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sieverding
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borth-Bruns
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eichhorn
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wallwiener
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gembruch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003330:Coronary Vessel Anomalies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006325:Heart Atria; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal