A Case of Giant Left Circumflex Coronary Fistula Aneurysm with Unidentified Fistula
Qiong Zhang1, Tao Zhang1, Jirong Zhu1
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China.
Insights
A rare giant coronary aneurysm case highlights diagnostic challenges. Surgical intervention successfully treated the left circumflex coronary fistula aneurysm after initial imaging failed to identify the fistula.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Coronary aneurysms are uncommon cardiovascular conditions.
- Giant aneurysms pose significant management challenges.
- Accurate fistula identification is crucial for treatment planning.
Observation:
- A 53-year-old male presented with a large left circumflex coronary fistula aneurysm (75 mm × 70 mm).
- Standard angiography and CT angiography failed to detect the fistula.
- Intraoperative exploration revealed the fistula connected to the right atrium.
Findings:
- The fistula and aneurysm inlet were surgically sutured.
- The coronary aneurysm was successfully resected.
- The patient experienced a successful recovery post-operation.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of intraoperative exploration for unidentified coronary fistulas.
- It provides valuable insights into managing complex giant coronary aneurysms.
- Improved diagnostic strategies are needed for coronary artery fistulas associated with aneurysms.
Abstract:
A coronary aneurysm is a rare type of cardiovascular disease. We report a case of a 53-year-old male patient who presented to our hospital with a giant left circumflex coronary fistula aneurysm (LCCA) (75 mm × 70 mm). Since coronary angiography and coronary computed tomography angiography failed to detect the fistula of the coronary aneurysm, interventional occlusion surgery could not be performed. We discovered the fistula in the right atrium by anterograde perfusion with blood-containing myocardial protective fluid after switching to intraoperative exploration during cardiac surgery. The coronary aneurysm's fistula and inlet were then sutured, and the aneurysm was resected. The patient recovered successfully after the operation. This case was instructive in managing LCCA, especially with an unidentified fistula.
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