Ligation of a Fistula between the Left Main Coronary Artery and Both the Pulmonary Artery and the Right Ventricle

Abstract

The frequency of coronary artery fistula among all coronary angiography patients is 0.1% to 0.2%; however, involvement of both the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle is a rare clinical entity. A 53-year-old man patient was admitted to our clinic with rarely occurring chest pain, palpitations, and dyspnea. A coronary angiogram showed a fistula between the left main coronary artery and both the pulmonary artery and the right ventricle. We performed a ligation of this fistula without cardiopulmonary bypass. Aorta and right ventricle sutures were made, and the proximal and distal portions of the fistula were obliterated with 5-0 Prolene sutures and previously prepared Teflon felt. The patient recovered and was discharged without any complications. The surgical indications for coronary artery fistulas are symptomatic disease, an aneurysmic coronary artery, signs of heart failure, and ischemia. The surgical options in such cases—depending on whether the fistula is complicated or not—are simple ligation or transarterial ligation under cardiopulmonary bypass.