Coronary Artery Fistulae Involving Both Right and Left Coronary Arteries
Ahmet Bolukcu1, Ahmet Can Topcu1, Yavuz Sensoz1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Dr Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Coronary artery fistulae are abnormal connections between coronary arteries and heart structures. This report details a rare case involving fistulae originating from both the right coronary and left anterior descending arteries.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Biology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Coronary artery fistulae (CAF) represent abnormal direct communications between coronary arteries and cardiac chambers or great vessels.
- While most CAFs involve the right coronary artery draining into the right heart, complex cases are less common.
- Fistulae originating from multiple coronary arteries and draining into the pulmonary artery are exceptionally rare.
Abstract:
A coronary artery fistula is defined as an abnormal direct communication between any coronary artery and any of the cardiac chambers, superior vena cava, coronary sinus, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary veins. The right coronary artery (RCA) is the most common site of origin, and right heart chambers are the most common site of drainage. However, there are few cases reported in the literature in which the fistulae originate from both the right coronary and the left anterior descending arteries and drain into the pulmonary artery. We present a case with fistulae involving both right and left coronary arteries.
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