Right coronary fistula and aneurysm draining to the right atrium
Erkki Pesonen1, Peter Hochbergs
1Pediatric Cardiology, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. erkki.pesonen@skane.se
Insights
A continuous heart murmur in a child indicated a coronary fistula, a condition where a blood vessel bypasses the heart. Echocardiography diagnosed the fistula, and interventional catheterization successfully closed it.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Coronary fistulas are rare congenital anomalies.
- A continuous heart murmur can be an indicator of abnormal blood flow, including coronary fistulas.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old boy presented with a continuous heart murmur.
- Echocardiography revealed a dilated right coronary artery, suggesting a coronary fistula.
- Further echocardiography identified the fistula extending to the right atrium via an aneurysm.
Findings:
- Echocardiography provided detailed anatomic visualization of the coronary fistula.
- Accidental dissection and thrombosis during interventional heart catheterization led to fistula closure.
Implications:
- Echocardiography is a valuable tool for diagnosing coronary fistulas.
- Interventional heart catheterization can be an effective treatment for coronary fistulas.
Unlabelled:
In a 3-year-old boy, a continuous heart murmur was heard. The echocardiogram showed a dilated right coronary artery suggesting the existence of a coronary fistula. A more detailed echocardiogram when the patient was sedated revealed a fistula leading to a large aneurysm and further to the right atrium. The accidental dissection and thrombosis during the interventional heart catheterization resulted in a closure of the fistula. A continuous heart murmur and a dilated coronary artery are the hallmarks of coronary fistula.
Conclusion:
Anatomic details of coronary fistula might be possible to see in an echocardiogram. Interventional heart catheterization is usually an adequate treatment option.
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