Surgical treatment of coronary artery fistulae associated with other cardiovascular anomalies.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate retrospectively our surgical experience, techniques and long-term results in 11 patients with coronary artery fistulae associated with other cardiovascular anomalies.

METHODS

From January 1980 to April 1995, 11 patients with coronary artery fistulae associated with other cardiovascular anomalies were found among 20,000 open-heart procedures and treated surgically. Besides closure of the fistulae, coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 5 patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, and aneurysm angioplasty was done in 4 patients with coronary artery aneurysm. Ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus were closed in one patient and mitral valve replacement was performed in another patient.

RESULTS

There were no surgical deaths, but one late death due to acute myocardial infarction occurred 6 months after surgery. The mean follow-up time was 75.7 months and all patients' functional status improved by an average 1.4 judged by the New York Heart Association functional classification.

CONCLUSIONS

Coronary artery fistula associated with other cardiovascular anomalies will aggravate symptoms and cause deterioration of heart function. Therefore, evaluation and surgical intervention should be done as soon as possible to restore coronary blood flow and correct concomitant cardiovascular anomalies. The surgical results are excellent with a low operative risk and good long-term results.