Review
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World J Cardiol. Dec 26, 2013; 5(12): 484-494
Published online Dec 26, 2013. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i12.484
Coronary-cameral fistulas in adults: Acquired types (second of two parts)
Salah AM Said, Rikke HM Schiphorst, Richard Derksen, Lodewijk J Wagenaar
Salah AM Said, Department of Cardiology, Hospital Group Twente, 7555 DL Hengelo, The Netherlands
Rikke HM Schiphorst, Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcentrum Twente, Medisch Spectrum Twente, 7513 ER Enschede, The Netherlands
Richard Derksen, Department of Cardiology, Rijnstate Hospital, 6815 AD Arnhem, The Netherlands
Lodewijk J Wagenaar, Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcentrum Twente, Medisch Spectrum Twente, 7513 ER Enschede, The Netherlands
Author contributions: Said SAM, Schiphorst RHM, Derksen R contributed to this paper. Schiphorst RHM collected the data; Derksen R provided the case with the congenital coronary cameral fistula described in part I; Said SAM prepared the manuscript and the literature review; Wagenaar LJ revised the manuscript; all the authors approved the final version of the paper.
Correspondence to: Salah AM Said, MD, PhD, FESC, Department of Cardiology, Hospital Group Twente,f Geerdinksweg 141, 7555 DL Hengelo, The Netherlands. samsaid@home.nl
Telephone: +31-74-2905286 Fax: +31-74-2905289
Received: May 24, 2013
Revised: August 25, 2013
Accepted: October 17, 2013
Published online: December 26, 2013
Processing time: 217 Days and 5.9 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The literature addressing acquired coronary artery fistulas (CCFs) is reviewed. A detailed classification of acquired CCFs is attempted. Acquired coronary artery fistulas are subdivided into spontaneous and traumatic types. The traumatic fistulas encounter iatrogenic and accidental subtypes. The iatrogenic fistulas are secondary to non-surgical interventions (endomyocardial biopsy, permanent pacing and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads, radiofrequency cardio-ablation, baro-trauma and transseptal puncture) and cardiac surgical procedures (septal myectomy and other cardiac surgical procedures). Diagnosis of acquired CCFs is suspected by clinical history and recurrence of symptoms, occurrence of a new continuous machinery cardiac murmur and a palpable thrill. Watchful waiting and supportive medical management may be advocated in the majority of acquired CCFs. Acquired traumatic accidental CCFs are indications for emergent surgical procedures. Within this entity of CCFs, each subtype has its own specific characteristics such as age of the subjects, origin, termination of fistulas or mechanism of injury and its specific treatment modality.