Complex congenital fistula between the coronary, bronchial and pulmonary arteries

Discussion:

This is a case of complex congenital fistula involving the coronary, bronchial and pulmonary arteries. 

Reversible chest pain in this case is possibly due to coronary steal phenomenon, which results from left-to-right shunting. There is also a possibility that under certain circumstances the bronchial arteries supply the coronary arteries (left-to-left pattern), or that the pulmonary arteries supply both bronchial and coronary arteries (right-to-left).

As of today, preemptive occlusion of the bronchial arteries with microparticules has been considered way too risky due to the high risk of collateral myocardial infarction. Occlusion of the bronchial arteries with coils could be considered, but there would still have a possibility of inducing the development of preexisting distal coronary to bronchial or pulmonary collateral vessels unseen on this CT. Covered stents in the coronary arteries to separate the coronary network from the bronchopulmonary network might be possible, at the cost of a complex procedure. 


Drs Pouillot & Kuhl also contributed to this case. I thank Dr Cochet and Pr Montaudon for their counsel.

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