CORONARY TO BRONCHIAL ARTERY ANASTOMOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH NONCYANOTICCARDIOPULMONARY DISEASE - REPORT OF 7 CASES

An angiographically visible coronary to bronchial artery anastomosis w as found in seven (0.12%) of 6045 patients with noncyanotic cardiopulm onary disease Rho underwent coronary angiography between 1980 and 1995 . Aortitis syndrome was associated with four patients, whereas pulmona ry embolism, aortic regurgitation and vasospastic angina were the diag noses in the others. Coronary stenotic lesions were not observed in an y patients. In five of six patients who underwent pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy, perfusion defect was observed in the area supplied by th e bronchial artery, which had the anastomosis to the coronary artery. In each patient this anastomosis seemed to function as collateral circ ulation, compensating for decreased perfusion in either the lung or th e heart. When coronary to bronchial artery anastomosis is found, ische mic conditions in either tile lung or the heart are likely.