Congenital coronary artery fistula treated surgically in the right atrium and the atrial septum

Various surgical techniques have been employed according to the type of the coronary fistula. In this case, preoperative examinations by aortography and MRI revealed a coronary artery fistula which originated from a site just proximal of the RCA, ran through the interatrial septum and drained into the posterior wall of right atrium. The ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow (Qp/Qs) was 1. 95. During surgery, we were not able to ligate or divide the fistula on the cardiac surface because the fistulous vessel originated from the posterior aspect of the proximal RCA. After establishing a cardiopulmonary bypass, the opening of the fistula in the right atrium was closed with an autologous pericardium patch, the surface of the interatrial septum was incised and the fistula was identified. The conduit was then divided and closed in the atrial septum. The postoperative course was uneventful. This approach is able to interrupt the fistula safely without interfering with normal coronary flow. Closure of the outlet and division of the fistula itself is a recommendable method to insure interruption of fistulous communication.