A case of coronary artery fistula between a coronary artery and the left atrium following maze procedure

J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2009 Mar;22(3):323.e3-6. doi: 10.1016/j.echo.2008.12.019. Epub 2009 Jan 18.

Abstract

The authors report a case of a coronary artery fistula (CAF) after mitral valvuloplasty and a maze procedure. A 73-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with congestive heart failure. He had undergone mitral valvuloplasty and a maze procedure 10 years previously. An abnormal Doppler flow signal in the left atrium was incidentally found on transthoracic echocardiography. It was diagnosed as a CAF on transesophageal echocardiography and other imaging modalities. The detection of the abnormal flow just after the operation suggested a causal relationship between this fistula and the preceding surgical procedure. Acquired CAF following cardiac surgery is a rare abnormality. However, if abnormal flow is found on transthoracic echocardiography after cardiac surgery, this abnormality should be kept in mind.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Vessel Anomalies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Vessels / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal / methods*
  • Fistula / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Atria / abnormalities*
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Male