Long-term outcomes of percutaneous closure of coronary artery fistulae in the adult: A single-center experience

Coronary artery fistulae (CAF) are rare congenital cardiac abnormalities. With increasing age, patients with moderate to large fistulae are likely to become symptomatic and encounter complications. Percutaneous closure has been accepted as a safe and effective alternative to surgery; however, information regarding long-term outcomes in adult patients after transcatheter closure is limited. Methods We describe our 20-year experience with percutaneous closure of CAF in adult patients, focusing on long-term outcomes. Results From 1995 to 2015, 25 adult patients underwent 33 transcatheter interventions to close 26 CAF at our institution. Mean age was 51.4 +/- 16.8 years, and 14 (56%) were female. All the patients were symptomatic with dyspnea (21/25, 84%) being the most common complaint followed by chest pain (17/25, 68%), palpitations (9/25, 36%), and heart failure (2/25, 8%). Two patients presented with acute coronary syndrome, whereas 10/25 (40%) also had inducible ischemia on stress test. These CAFs were classified as medium (12, 46.2%), large (5, 19.2%), and giant (9, 34.6%). Immediately postprocedure complete occlusion was achieved in 21 (21/26, 81%), and residual trace leak was observed in three fistulae, whereas we could not deliver coils/device in two cases. Periprocedural complications occurred in the form of coronary dissection (n = 1), myocardial infarction (n = 2), coil embolization (n = 1), transient ST elevation (n = 1); the majority of complications were observed in the early years of our experience. Patients reported marked improvement in symptoms after the intervention. During a mean follow-up of 76 +/- 69 (5-214 months) (n = 22), 15 patients were investigated by either conventional (n = 6) or CT angiography (n = 8) or both (n = 1) that demonstrated thrombotic occlusion of a proximal coronary artery where a distal fistula was treated. Another patient was noted to have thrombus proximal to a vascular plug in a distal giant fistula. Three patients were lost to follow-up. None of the investigated patients had recanalization of their fistula. We did not observe remodeling of the native coronary artery that was feeding the fistula, even after successful complete closure. Conclusion Percutaneous device closure of CAF is a feasible and effective therapeutic intervention in adult patients; however, patients with distal fistulas represent a significant challenge and the outcomes of these procedures are in question. All patients should have long-term angiographic follow-up.