Coronary-bronchial artery fistula manifested by hemoptysis and myocardial ischemia in a patient with bronchiectasis

Abstract

A coronary-bronchial artery fistula is a very rare congenital anomaly of the coronary artery whose etiology and pathogenesis have not yet been clarified. Most patients with coronary-bronchial fistulas are asymptomatic; however, some patients present with congestive heart failure, infective endocarditis, myocardial ischemia induced by a coronary steal phenomenon, or rupture of an aneurysmal fistula. Furthermore, patients with a coronary-bronchial artery fistula rarely manifest life-threatening hemoptysis due to the associated bronchiectasis. We report herein the case of a patient with a coronary-bronchial artery fistula who had bronchiectasis and a history of massive hemoptysis and myocardial ischemia. © The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2012.