Selected Reports

Systemic-to-Pulmonary Fistula in Intrapulmonary Hodgkin's Disease

A 55-year-old man was admitted for transcatheter closure because of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). He had a history of occasional chest pain more than one year. Angiography didn't reveal significant stenosis at coronary artery. The patient was found a continuous grade 2/6 murmur over the left upper parastenal area one month ago. Chest MRA revealed a possible left superior pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. For diagnosis and localization of the fistula, aortography and selective angiography of the internal mammary artery was performed and presented a left internal mammary artery-to-pulmonary artery fistula. The fistula was successfully closed using an 12 mm domestic vascular plug. Chest MRA showed that the fistula disappeared at two-month follow-up.

Internal mammary artery to pulmonary vasculature fistula is a rare condition that can be congenital or associated with coronary bypass surgery, trauma, inflammation, or neoplasia. We report six cases of symptomatic internal mammary artery to pulmonary vasculature fistula diagnosed after coronary bypass surgery using left internal mammary artery graft.

A 58-year-old male who had undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using left internal mammary artery and a sequential saphenous vein graft 2 years ago presented with new onset angina. His initial physical examination revealed an unexpected continuous murmur over the left sternal border, and two-dimensional echocardiography has failed to identy the cause. Cardiac catheterization then performed and revealed patent left internal mammary artery and saphenous vein grafts. Besides, selective injection of the left internal mammary artery graft also showed a fistula formation between left internal mammary artery graft and pulmonary vasculature of the left upper lobe. He was managed conservatively because of the severely diseased left anterior descending artery distal to internal mammary artery anastomosis and low pulmonary artery pressure. The development of fistulous connection between internal mammary artery and pulmonary vasculature is an extremely rare complication following CABG. Patients with such fistulae usually present with chest pain due to coronary steal syndrome. A new heart sound, especially a continuous murmur, may be detected during physical examination. Surgical correction is indicated in the event of refractory angina, growing fistula causing heart failure or endarteritis. Otherwise, a conservative approach with instruction of the patient for prophylactic precautions of subacute bacterial endocarditis may be recommended for asymptomatic patients.

Tras una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura, hemos encontrado tan sólo 20 casos reportados de fístulas entre la arteria mamaria interna (AMI) y las arterias pulmonares. Frecuentemente se indica su cierre quirúrgico por las complicaciones que pueden acarrear. Presentamos el primer caso en el que el tratamiento se realiza de forma percutánea mediante una técnica mixta con un dispositivo Amplatzer Duct Occluder (ADO) asociado a coils.

A through review of the literature identified only 20 reported cases of fistula involving the internal mammary (internal thoracic) artery and a lobar branch of a pulmonary artery. Surgical closure was frequently done to avoid complications associated with this anomaly. We report the first patient in whom percutaneous treatment was accomplished with a combined technique involving an Amplatzer Duct Occluder device and coils.