Congenital coronary arterial fistula

Definition

A congenital cardiovascular malformation in which a coronary artery communicates, through an anomalous channel, with a cardiac chamber or with any segment of the systemic or pulmonary circulation. Additional information: this communication may be simple and direct or may be tortuous and dilated. In order of frequency the involved coronary artery is the right, the left and, rarely, both coronary arteries. Occasionally multiple fistulas are present.

Exclusions

• anomalous origin of coronary artery from pulmonary arterial tree

Inclusions

• congenital coronary fistula to pulmonary artery

Index Terms