Background— Significant morbidities, including angina, symptomatic heart failure, and myocardial infarction, have been reported after coronary artery fistula (CAF) closure; however, predictors that may be associated with adverse outcomes have not been established. The goal of this investigation is to describe the long-term outcomes witnessed in patients with either treated or untreated CAF at our institution and to investigate whether certain features predicted adverse outcomes. Methods and Results— The records and angiograms of patients with CAF who underwent a diagnostic cardiac catheterization at Children’s Hospital Boston from 1959 through 2008 were reviewed. Of 76 patients identified, 20% were associated with additional congenital heart disease. Forty-four underwent transcatheter closure, 20 underwent surgical repair, and no intervention was performed in the remaining 12 subjects. Three patients who had initially undergone surgical closure had a second intervention, 1 underwent repeat surgery, and 2 underwent transcatheter closure. One patient who had undergone transcatheter closure underwent a second transcatheter closure for residual fistula. Major complications, including myocardial infarction, angina with coronary thrombosis, and symptomatic cardiomyopathy, occurred in 11 (15%) patients. The sole angiographic feature that was predictive of adverse outcome was drainage of the CAF into the coronary sinus ( P <0.001). Clinical predictors associated with adverse outcomes included older age at diagnosis ( P <0.001), tobacco use ( P =0.006), diabetes ( P =0.05), systemic hypertension ( P <0.001), and hyperlipidemia ( P <0.001). Conclusions— Long-term complications of CAF closure may include coronary thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathy. CAF that drain into the coronary sinus are at particularly high-risk of long-term morbidities after closure, and strategies including long-term anticoagulation should be considered.

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A comparison of our results with those in the recent transcatheter and surgical literature shows similar early effectiveness, morbidity and mortality. From data available, TCC of CAF is an acceptable alternative to surgery in most patients.