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Surgical therapy of a coronary artery fistula draining into the left atrium
A Boening1, J Scheewe, G Fischer
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Christian-Albrechts University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 7, 24105 Kiel, Germany. aboening@kielheart.uni-kiel.de
Insights
Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are rare heart defects. Surgical repair was successful for a 3-year-old girl with a CAF draining into the left atrium, alongside an atrial septum defect (ASD).
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are uncommon congenital vascular malformations.
- CAFs can lead to significant cardiac complications if left untreated.
Observation:
- A rare case of a 3-year-old girl presenting with a coronary artery fistula (CAF) draining into the left atrium.
- The patient also had an atrial septum defect (ASD) and azygos continuity, indicating complex congenital heart abnormalities.
Findings:
- Surgical intervention was performed, involving closure of both the atrial septum defect (ASD) and the coronary artery fistula (CAF).
- The surgical approach utilized a left atrial technique for the CAF closure.
Implications:
- This case highlights that while interventional methods exist for CAFs, surgical correction remains essential for complex cases with associated cardiac anomalies.
- Early diagnosis and appropriate management, including surgical options, are crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric patients with complex congenital heart disease.
Abstract:
Coronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are rare vascular anomalies. We describe a case of CAF draining into the left atrium, combined with an atrial septum defect (ASD) and azygos continuity in a 3-year-old girl. Surgical therapy included closure of the ASD combined with closure of the CAF through a left atrial approach. Even though CAF can be treated by interventional means, surgical correction may be required in the presence of associated cardiac abnormalities.