Catheter-based techniques for closure of coronary fistulae

This study details different methodologies of percutaneous closure of arter iosystemic and arteriovenous coronary fistula, Seven patients underwent tra nscatheter intervention of 10 fistulas, with 7 fistulas successfully closed : 6 with embolic coil devices and 1 with a covered stent obstructing the fi stula ostium. The major complication encountered was one death as a result of device recoil into a major epicardial vessel. Percutaneous transcatheter closure of coronary fistulas appears to be simple, facile, and effective. However, device recoil into an undesired arterial segment, while irritating in a noncoronary arterial tree, may be catastrophic when occurring in an e picardial coronary artery, (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.