Multiple coronary artery fistulae treated with a single Amplatzer vascular plug: check the back door when the front is locked.

Congenital coronary artery fistulae are rare anomalies, which can result in myocardial ischemia or infarction, congestive heart failure, fistula rupture, or death. In this report, the authors describe a 56-year-old woman with new onset chest pain and palpitations. Exercise myocardial perfusion imaging was significant for a reversible perfusion defect in the anterior left ventricular wall. Left and right heart catheterization demonstrated multiple fistulous communications between the right coronary and left anterior descending coronary arteries with the pulmonary artery. All fistulae drained into the pulmonary artery by a common ampulla. Closure was achieved via a percutaneous approach using a single Amplatzer vascular plug. Copyright 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.