Coronary pulmonary artery fistula: A case series with review of the literature

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical, angiographic profile and management strategies of patients of coronary pulmonary arterial fistulas presenting to a tertiary care center in a developing country. Methods: All patients with coronary pulmonary artery fistula (CPAF) diagnosed using coronary angiogram in last two years i.e. 2011-2013 in a tertiary care center in South India were included in the study. Ten adult patients were treated for coronary pulmonary artery fistulas . Results: Mean age was 56 7.7 years (range 45-80 years) with no gender preponderance. Chest pain was the predominant symptom in 60 % of patients followed by giddiness and syncope. Only 20 % patients were found to have continuous or systolic murmur on auscultation. Majority of the fistulas were found to be originating from the left anterior descending artery (LAD), most commonly from proximal segment (n = 5). Majority (n = 9) responded to conservative management while one patient required surgical intervention. Conclusion: Coronary pulmonary arterial fistulas are rare coronary anomaly which often goes unnoticed. CPAF was most frequently seen in middle age with male preponderance arising from proximal LAD. Patients present with diverse clinical presentations and subtle clinical findings. Majority of them being functionally insignificant, need only conservative measures.