Role of Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis of coronary artery fistula

ABSTRACT

Background: Diagnosis of coronary fistula is quite challenging, requires the combination of clinical experience, echocardiography and catheterization. Objective: The study is to evaluate the role of cardiac Doppler color ultrasound for diagnosis of coronary fistula. Subjects and method: Results from both cardiac Doppler color ultrasound and catheterization with a hemodynamic study of 17 patients were compared to estimate sensitivity and specificity. Results: Echocardiography can correctly diagnose coronary fistula, compared with cardiac catheterization (both sensitivity and specificity are 100%). It can also assess the presence of fistula (sensitivity 82.2%) and degree of fistula dilatation (sensitivity 94%, specificity 100%). Conclusion: Cardiac Doppler color ultrasound is a good non-invasive method to diagnose coronary fistula, to evaluate the morphology, location and level of the fistula.