Coronary artery fistulas: how to manage them. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Coronary artery fistulas are rare persisting vascular connections from a coronary artery to a cardiac chamber or major central blood vessel. The true incidence is difficult to discern because at least 75% may be asymptomatic and clinically undetectable until an echocardiogram or coronary arteriogram is performed. Small coronary artery fistulas that are not clinically detectable are not clearly associated with significant long term complications. Medium or large fistulas are associated with significant long term problems including angina, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, endocarditis, and progressive dilation. Treatment options include surgical and catheter approaches to significant fistulas. The long term outlook after fistula closure is not well defined and deserves further study.

publication date

  • July 1, 2007

Research

keywords

  • Cardiac Catheterization
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures
  • Coronary Disease
  • Coronary Vessels
  • Embolization, Therapeutic
  • Patient Selection
  • Vascular Fistula

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 34447120168

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1002/ccd.21125

PubMed ID

  • 17420995

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 70

issue

  • 1