Case report
Large coronary artery fistula and patent ductus arteriosus: transcatheter closure with three PDA nitinol wire mesh occluders

Introduction

Coronary artery fistulas (CAF) are the most common anomalies of the coronary artery. Origin of the fistula from the left coronary is more common than the right (75% vs. 25%) and entry sites were in the right heart in 92% (pulmonary artery 33%, ventricle 32%, atrium 24%). Most often the entry point was a single orifice and rarely multiple. Coronary fistulas are thought to have a congenital origin and enlarge gradually throughout life [1]. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2008 guidelines for the management of adults with congenital heart diseases recommended the closure of all large coronary artery fistulas, regardless of symptomatology, using transcatheter or surgical techniques [2].

Aim

We would like to present the case of two special peculiarities: presence of patent ductus arteriosus coinciding with multiple orifices of the coronary artery fistula to the right atrium. All undesirable circulatory connections were closed during interventional catheterizations.

Case report

A 26-year-old man (68 kg body weight) was admitted with symptoms of fatigue, with continuous murmur at the left sternal border. Three months previously he was diagnosed with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which was closed percutaneously. The mean diameter of PDA was 4 mm, pulmonary artery pressure 21/7/12 mm Hg and aortic 100/60/70 mm Hg, Qp/Qs ratio – 3.0. Patent ductus arteriosus was type A (according to Kirchenco classification and it was closed uneventfully with a PDA 10/8 mm device (Lifetech Comp, Shenzen, China). After the procedure continuous murmur persisted. Electrocardiography was normal and in thoracic X-ray slight enlargement of the right atrium and augmented pulmonary flow in both lungs were observed. Based on the detailed transthoracic echocardiogram the presence of coronary artery fistula to the right atrium was suspected. In angio-CT left circumflex artery with possible multiple orifices to the right atrium was confirmed (Figure 1). The patient was referred for diagnostic and possible therapeutic catheterization. Written consent was obtained from the patient to perform that procedure.

Vascular access was obtained through the right femoral artery (sheath 6 F) and right femoral vein (sheath 8 F). Heparin and antibiotic were administered. Aortography confirmed the presence of a huge CAF to the right atrium (Figure 2). A 6 F pigtail catheter with the aid of a Terumo hydrophilic guide wire 0.35 cm × 260 cm was inserted into the dilated circumflex artery and later to the right atrium through the 6 mm orifice (Figure 3). The wire was snared using a lasso catheter in the superior vena cava (Figure 4) and exteriorized in the right femoral vein for the creation of an arteriovenous wire loop. With the 8 F delivery system the 12/10 Cardio-O-Fix (COF) PDA occluder (Starway Comp, China, Beijing) was opened (Figure 5), closing one orifice of the CAF. Another leak (orifice of CAF – 3.5 mm diameter) was closed using a similar technique by a 10/8 mm PDA COF device (Figure 6–9). Complete closure of the coronary artery fistula and disappearance of the heart murmur were observed. The patient was discharged home 4 days after the procedure on acetylsalicylic acid 150 mg/day. During 6-month follow-up he remained without any complaints or pathological symptoms. In control angio-CT complete closure of the CAF was confirmed.

Discussion

Coronary artery fistula is an uncommon congenital malformation. Echocardiographic examination in case of CAF does not always show detailed anatomy. In such cases the usefulness of angio-CT has been confirmed in several studies [3, 4], as well as ours. Coexistence of PDA and coronary artery fistula is very rare and was described previously in one of our patients [5]. Continuous murmur is characteristic for large coronary artery fistula and was present in all previously published patients [4-8]. This murmur is present also in case of PDA, which can cloud the presence of coexisting CAF, as happened in our case. Persistent continuous murmur after successful closure of the PDA was the main reason to find out another cardiac pathology.

All cases published previously [4-8] had only one fistula orifice. In the patient described in this paper, multiple (at least 2) orifices of the coronary artery fistula were present. Our experience shows that precisely chosen devices can effectively close such CAFs. Successful percutaneous closure of large coronary artery fistula has been reported previously mainly using an Amplatzer Duct Occluder (ADO) [4, 5, 8]. This implant has several advantages over other devices used to close CAFs including a high rate of complete occlusion and relatively easy implantation. On the other hand, the experience presented here, as well as by others [6, 7], indicates that Chinese devices, very similar to ADO, also fulfill these requirements. The choice of the device and technique for percutaneous closure of coronary artery fistula depends on anatomical characteristics of the fistula. Patent ductus arteriosus nitinol wire occluders are a good option for such purposes.

Conclusions

Transcatheter closure of large coronary artery fistula with multiple orifices is safe and effective.

Acknowledgments

The described procedure was performed during the China Interventional Therapeutics Congress on 16 March 2012 in Beijing, China.

References

 1. Keane JF, Fyler DC. Vascular fistule. In: Nadas pediatric cardiology. Keane JF, Lock, JE, Flyler DC (eds). Saunder Elsevier, Philadelphia 2006; 799-804.  

2. Warnes CA, Williams RG, Bashore TM. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2008 guidelines for the management of adults with congenital heart diseases: a report of ACC/AHA task force on practice guidelines (Writing Committee to develop guidelines for the management of adults with congenital heart diseases). J Am Coll Cardiol 2008; 52: e1-e121.  

3. Wasniewski M, Angerer D, Ochotny R, et al. The 64-slice computed tomography of a coronary artery fistula communicating with right ventricle. Cardiol J 2008; 15: 384-385.  

4. Wisniewska-Szmyt J, Swiatkiewicz I, Chojnicki M, et al. Percutaneous closure of the coronary artery fistula connecting left main coronary artery and the right atrium in a 61 year-old woman. Kardiol Pol 2011; 69: 734-737.  

5. Xu L, Xu Z, Jiang S, et al. Transcatheter closure of coronary artery fistula in children. Chin Med J 2010; 123: 822-826.  

6. Bialkowski J, Szkutnik M, Fiszer R, et al. Transcatheter occlusion of a large coronary artery fistula using a patent ductus arteriosus occluder. Kardiol Pol 2011; 69: 1318-1319.  

7. Zhao G, Jin H, Wu H. Successful closure for a case of congenital coronary artery fistula using a patent ductus arteriosus occluder. Cardiol Young 2011; 21: 97-100.  

8. Hakim F, Madani A, Goussouos Y, et al. Thranscatheter closure of large coronary arteriovenous fistula using the new Amplatzer duct occluder. Cathet Cardiovasc Diag 1998; 45: 155-157.