Surgical Correction of Coronary Arteriovenous Fistula in the Newborn Period

Abstract

Coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF) is defined as an abnormal communication between the coronary artery and a cardiac cavity or a major blood vessel. It is the most common congenital anomaly of the coronary arteries, but it is relatively rare, accounting for only approximately 0.4% of all congenital heart diseases. Most cases of CAVF are clinically asymptomatic in young patients, but with increasing age, symptoms begin to appear and surgical treatment is required. In rare cases of CAVF, however, symptoms may appear in the neonatal period and early surgery may be required. In this article, we report the case of a 12-day-old patient diagnosed after birth with CAVF between the aneurysmatic left anterior descending artery and the right ventricle. This patient required early surgical intervention due to concerns about worsening heart failure and developing coronary artery ischemia. Although various surgical options were considered, we opted for an arteriotomy of the left anterior descending artery and closed the fistula with two autologous pericardial patches. There has been no signs of postoperative ischemic changes or enlargement of the coronary aneurysm during the 4 years of follow up, and careful monitoring will continue.