Coronary artery fistula detected with transesophageal echocardiography: An unexpected cause of pulmonary hypertension and chest pain

Abstract

Coronary artery fistulae are congenital cardiac abnormalities characterized by an abnormal communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber, systemic or pulmonary vessel. Most of the cases are asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally during an angiography. We describe a rare case of a right coronary artery fistula draining to the right atrium, manifesting in chest pain and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The fistula was detected on transesophageal echocardiography during the workup for PAH.

Right coronary artery–right ventricular fistula complicated with infective endocarditis

“…6 In recent years, medical imaging technology has been widely used in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. 7 Coronary angiography is still considered the "gold standard" in diagnostic imaging of CAF. In addition, MDCT can perform highly accurate anatomic imaging of CAF.…”