Coronary Artery Fistula in an Elderly Female: A Case Report

TL;DR

This paper presents a rare case of a coronary artery fistula in an elderly woman and discusses its detection and treatment considerations.

Contribution

The paper contributes a detailed case report of an elderly patient with a rare coronary artery fistula.

Findings

Coronary artery fistulas are rare, with an incidence of 0.002% to 0.3% in the general population.

Improved imaging techniques have led to increased detection of asymptomatic CAFs.

Accurate characterization of CAF anatomy is essential for informed treatment decisions.

Abstract

A coronary artery fistula (CAF) is an abnormal, direct connection between the coronary arteries and cardiac chambers, systemic circulation, or pulmonary circulation without an intervening capillary network. We report a case of a CAF observed in an elderly female.
Congenital CAFs are indeed relatively rare, with an incidence of 0.002% to 0.3% in the general population. Over the past few decades, coronary angiography and multi-detector computed tomography have become more widely available, leading to an increased detection of asymptomatic patients with CAFs.
By accurately characterizing the CAF's anatomy and understanding the risk factors for complications, clinicians can make more informed decisions about the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Figures