An Unusual Cause of Right Ventricular Ischemia: Saphenous Venous Graft
to Pulmonary Artery Fistula
Abstract
Saphenous venous graft to pulmonary artery fistula is a rare
condition.Below we report a casewith saphenous venous graft to left
pulmonary artery fistula presenting with coronary ischemia and right
heart failure in the literature. 61 year-old male patient was admitted
to our emergency department with exertional chest pain. He had previous
history of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation.The
transthorasic echocardiogram displayed normal left ventricular ejection
fraction (55%) .However, right ventricular systolic functional
parameters were decreased, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion
(TAPSE) and tricuspid annular systolic velocity were found as 13mm and
7 cm/sec,respectively. Coronary angiography represented critical
stenosis in native coronary arteries.Left internal mammarian arterial
graft (LIMA) to LAD remains to be patent. Aorto-CXA saphenous venous
graft was also patent. Aorto-RCA and LAD septal sequential saphenous
venous graft was patent in RCA course, a fistula from Aorto-RCA and LAD
septal sequential venos graft to left pulmonary artery was observed.
Coronary computed tomography clearly represented the fistula from venus
graft to pulmonary artery. The patient was discussed by Heart Team and
re-operation was decided, the patient declined the operation and he was
discharged from the hospital under medical therapy. Acquired coronary
artery fistulas mostly develop after CABG surgery ; moreover, they may
be related to trauma ,neoplasmor infection.They may develop in various
areas,there are several data reporting coronary artery fistulas from
LIMA or saphenous grafts to pulmonary artery. To the best of our
knowledge, this current case was the first case report demonstrating the
saphenous venous graft fistulazation without venous aneurysm to
pulmonary artery linked to right ventricle failure and coronary ischemia
togetherness without any other underlying cause to explain the right
heart failure.