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Echocardiographic evaluation of the five-chamber heart: a rare congenital coronary anomaly
R T Jortner1, W G Daniel, O Ayzenberg
1Beilinson Medical Center, Petah-Tiqva, Israel.
Insights
A rare coronary artery fistula drained into an unusual fifth cardiac chamber at the apex. This congenital anomaly was visualized using advanced echocardiography techniques.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Vascular Anomalies
Background:
- Coronary artery fistulas are uncommon congenital abnormalities.
- Typically, these fistulas drain into cardiac chambers or major veins.
Observation:
- A unique case presented with an anomalous fifth cardiac chamber.
- This chamber was located at the cardiac apex.
Findings:
- The fifth cardiac chamber served as the drainage site for a large coronary artery fistula.
- The fistula originated from the left anterior descending coronary artery.
Implications:
- This case highlights the diverse and rare presentations of coronary artery anomalies.
- Advanced echocardiography is crucial for diagnosing and understanding complex cardiovascular anatomy.
Abstract:
Coronary artery fistulas are rare congenital anomalies that usually drain into one of the cardiac chambers or veins. The current patient was found to have a distinctly unusual anatomic picture, with a fifth cardiac chamber appearing at the cardiac apex. This proved to be the drainage site for a large coronary artery fistula originating in the left anterior descending coronary artery. The anatomic relations and blood flow patterns were demonstrated with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.