Long-term outcomes following surgical repair of coronary artery fistula
in adults
Abstract
Background and aim of the study: Coronary artery fistula (CAF) is a
relatively rare cardiac anomaly. We investigated long-term outcomes
following surgical repair of CAF in adults. Methods: We retrospectively
investigated 13 consecutive patients undergoing surgical repair of CAF
in our institution between 2008 and 2019 (67.3±10.4 years old, 38%
male). CAF types were coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula (77%),
coronary artery-coronary sinus fistula (15%), and both (8%). CAFs
originated from the left coronary artery (38%), right coronary artery
(8%), and bilateral coronary arteries (38%). Pulmonary and systemic
flow (Qp/Qs) was measured in seven patients (54%), with a mean value of
1.52. Seven patients underwent surgery for CAFs alone, and others
simultaneously underwent surgery for comorbid cardiac diseases. Results:
All procedures were conducted under cardiopulmonary bypass. Surgical
procedures were direct epicardial ligation of fistula (92%), direct
closure of CAF through pulmonary artery incision (38%), direct closure
of CAF through coronary sinus incision (8%), or patch closure of CAF
through coronary artery incision (8%). Myocardial perfusion
scintigraphy showed asymptomatic myocardial ischemia in the right
coronary area after surgery in one patient. There were no deaths
perioperatively or during follow-up (mean 66.6 months). There were no
coronary or other CAF-related events. Conclusions: Several anatomical
variations in CAF were observed which coexist with cardiac disease.
Long-term outcomes following surgical repair were satisfactory, and the
concurrent intervention of CAFs during surgery for comorbid cardiac
disease is useful to prevent future complications related CAFs in
adults.