Case Report

Coexistence of atherosclerosis and fistula as a cause of angina pectoris: a case report

Dimitris P Papadopoulos^*, Christos V Bourantas, Chrisostomos K Ekonomou and Vasilios Votteas

• * Corresponding author: Dimitris P Papadopoulos jimpaodoc@yahoo.com

Author Affiliations

Department of Cardiology, Laiko Hospital, 39 Karneadou Street, Athens, 10675, Greece

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Cases Journal 2010, 3:70 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-3-70

Published: 23 February 2010

Abstract

Introduction

Coronary artery fistulas are abnormal communications between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber or a major vessel (vena cava, pulmonary vein, pulmonary artery). They are usually diagnosed by coronary arteriography. Clinical presentations are variable depending on the type of fistula, shunt volume, site of the shunt, and presence of other cardiac conditions.

Case presentation

This report describes a 46-year-old Greek female patient who was admitted to the hospital because of an acute coronary syndrome. She underwent coronary angiogram which showed a coronary artery fistula from the left anterior descending artery to the main pulmonary artery and severe coronary disease. The patient was referred for coronary artery bypass surgery and fistula closure operation.

Conclusions

Coronary artery fistulas between left anterior descending artery and main pulmonary artery are very rare anomalies. This case report describes a patient with this anomaly combined with severe coronary disease, reviews the current literature and discusses the available options for treating this rare condition.