Dual Coronary-Pulmonary Fistula Firstly Found at Routine Doppler Echocardiogram

Abstract

Congenital coronary-pulmonary fistulas (CPFs) are defined as an abnormal direct communication between one or more coronary arteries, with a cardiac or thoracic structure bypassing the capillary network. We report the case of a 73-year-old male, with a history of hypertension, asymptomatic for angina and dyspnea, who was referred for routine clinical control. Echocardiogram unexpectedly showed the presence of diastolic flow from the pulmonary trunk in parasternal short-axis view. Pulsed-wave Doppler confirmed the presence of diastolic flow and displayed the typical coronary flow pattern. Coronary angiography hence showed the presence of dual CPFs originating from the second segment of the left anterior descending coronary and the right coronary arteries. Careful routine Doppler echocardiograph examination may raise the suspicion of CPF in case of otherwise unexplained symptoms and may represent a simple, easy, repeatable tool for the first suspected diagnosis and follow-up of CPFs.

Keywords: Coronary anomaly; coronary fistula; doppler echocardiogram.

Figure 1

(a) Diastolic flow from the pulmonary trunk directed upward. (b) Pulsed-wave Doppler confirming typical coronary flow pattern. (c) Coronary-pulmonary fistula from the mid segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery (arrow). (d) Coronary-pulmonary fistula from the right coronary artery (arrow)