SUCCESSFUL PERCUTANEOUS CLOSURE OF A CORONARY-ARTERY FISTULA WITH A DETACHABLE BALLOON

Precutaneous transcatheter closure technique of a coronary artery fist ula with a detachable balloon was performed for a 14 year old male stu dent. Complete closure of the fistula without any complications was co nfirmed by angiography after the procedure. When the patient underwent a second angiography 6 months after the closure, it was confirmed tha t the position of the balloon had not changed, that the interruption o f the flow of the fistula had been maintained and that the diameter of the left coronary artery and the fistula were reduced. Percutaneous c losure technique using a detachable balloon may become the primary tre atment for a coronary artery fistula in place of surgical ligation.