Multiple coronary artery fistulas with a huge right coronary artery showing exacerbation during 16 years of follow-up.
A 38-year-old Japanese woman underwent cardiac evaluation to assess an arrhythmia detected after the delivery of her fourth baby. At the age of 22 years, she had undergone cardiac evaluation, including catheter examination, because of a heart murmur. Coronary angiography showed a huge right coronary artery (RCA) draining to the right atrium and a normal left coronary artery. Because the left to right shunt ratio was trivial and the patient was asymptomatic, conservative observation was undertaken. On the current admission to hospital, there was a grade III continuous murmur at the second left sternal border. The patient underwent right and left cardiac catheter examination in March 2000. Selective coronary angiography demonstrated an enlarged lumen of the RCA, an enlarged aneurysmal cavity in the terminal portion of the RCA, and the postero-descending artery being filled by collateral circulation from the left coronary artery. Moreover, 2 new fistulas had appeared from the left coronary system. An oxygen saturation study showed that the pulmonary to somatic flow ratio (Qp/Qs) was 2.2. The patient underwent surgical treatment in July 2000 and on coronary angiography 1 month later, there was no abnormal shunt flow from either coronary artery into the aneurysmal cavity, although the RCA was still enlarged.
Sugihara
Masaaki
M
Division of Cardiology, Mazda Hospital, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. aag27241@pop02.odn.ne.jp
Yamamoto
Hideya
H
Matsushita
Hiroko
H
Tadehara
Futoshi
F
Gomyo
Yukihiko
Y
Mochizuki
Takaaki
T
Marui
Akira
A
D000328:Adult; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors