Device closure of fistula from left lower pulmonary artery to left atrium using a vascular plug: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is a variant of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula and is a developmental anomaly. Delayed presentation, cyanosis and effort intolerance are some of the important features. The diagnosis is confirmed by computed tomography or pulmonary artery angiography. Catheter-based closure is preferred to surgery.

CASE SUMMARY

Left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is rare. A 40-year-old male presented with effort intolerance, central cyanosis, and recurrent seizures. He had a large and highly tortuous left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula associated with a large aneurysmal sac in the course. Catheter-based closure was performed using a vascular plug.

CONCLUSION

Left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is relatively uncommon compared to right pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula. Percutaneous closure by either a transeptal technique or guide wire insertion into the pulmonary vein through the pulmonary artery is preferred. The need for an arteriovenous loop depends on the tortuosity of the course of the fistula and the size of the device to be implanted because a larger device needs a larger sheath, necessitating firm guide wire support to facilitate negotiation of the stiff combination of the delivery sheath and dilator.

Key Words: Pulmonary artery, Left atrium, Fistula, Hemangioma, Catheter-based, Vascular plug, Case report

Core Tip: Pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is a variant of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula and is a developmental anomaly. Left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is rare. We report the case of a 40-year-old male who presented with effort intolerance, central cyanosis, and recurrent seizures. He had a large and highly tortuous left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula associated with a large aneurysmal sac in the course. Catheter-based closure was performed using a vascular plug.

INTRODUCTION

Left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is relatively rare compared to right pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula, as previously reported[1]. The first case of pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula was reported in 1989 as an unusual cause of cyanosis in a newborn[2]. A significant right-to-left shunt is clinically marked by effort intolerance, cyanosis, and polycythemia, as well as sometimes bleeding issues related to associated hemangioma[3,4]. Pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is a variant of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation. There is significant clinical suspicion of this condition when there is cyanosis without any obvious murmur in the precordium. Echocardiography shows a significant increase in pulmonary venous return to the left atrium, which is an additional clue and can be confirmed by cardiac catheterization or contrast-enhanced computed tomography. This case reports the relevant issues we encountered during the percutaneous device closure of a large and highly tortuous left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula associated with a large aneurysmal sac in its course in an adult.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 40-year-old male weighing 47 kg presented with effort intolerance, cyanosis, and clubbing.

History of present illness

The patient had a history of recurrent seizures and was on levetiracetam.

Personal and family history

The patient was a school teacher in profession and had no other significant comorbidities and no family history of congenital malformation.

Physical examination

The patient had central cyanosis and pandigital clubbing, and his room air oxygen saturation was 87%. There was no murmur on auscultation.

Laboratory examinations

The results of routine blood tests were normal. A genetic study could not be performed to exclude Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, which is also known as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia[4,5].

Imaging examinations

Chest X-ray examination showed a dilated and enlarged left perihilar region. There were multiple small hemangiomas in several organs, including the brain. Echocardiography showed increased pulmonary venous return to the left atrium. Enhanced computed tomography of the pulmonary artery showed a left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula with a highly tortuous course associated with an aneurysmal sac on its course from the pulmonary artery to the left atrium (Figure 1A, Video 1 and 2). The narrowest diameter of the fistula was 1 cm just proximal to the aneurysmal sac in its course. A significant branch of the pulmonary artery was supplying the posterior segment of the left lower lobe.

Figure 1 Three-dimensional computed tomography volume rendering and pulmonary artery angiogram. A: Contrast-enhanced computed tomography with three-dimensional reconstruction showing the left lower pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula with a highly tortuous course associated with an aneurysmal sac. Yellow arrow: left lower segmental artery; red arrow: aneurysmal sac; green arrow: last part of fistula connecting the left atrium; B: Anterior-posterior projection of pulmonary artery angiography using a 6-Fr pigtail catheter showing a highly tortuous large left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula associated with a 6-cm aneurysmal sac. The right ventricular oxygen saturation was 79%, and the left ventricular saturation was 92% in room air without anesthesia.

Figure 2 Lateral pulmonary angiography and the course of the guidewire. A: Lateral pulmonary artery angiography using a 6-Fr pigtail catheter showing a large left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula associated with a large aneurysmal sac; B: A Terumo wire (0.35 cm × 260 cm) and 5-Fr multipurpose catheter helped to negotiate the highly tortuous course of the fistula to reach beyond the targeted landing zone and the site of guide wire placement in the upper right pulmonary vein via the aneurysmal sac for adequate support. Red arrow: 8-Fr sheath; yellow arrow: 5-Fr multipurpose catheter through the delivery sheath; blue arrow: guidewire in the aneurysmal sac; green arrow: upper right pulmonary vein.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY EXPERT CONSULTATION

The cardiothoracic surgeon suggested device closure as the first option if possible.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

The final diagnosis was a large left lower pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula associated with an aneurysmal sac.

TREATMENT

Because the patient had multiple hemangiomas and recurrent seizures related to cerebral hemangioma based on the magnetic resonance angiography findings of the brain, the cardiac team suggested that a catheter-based intervention would be preferred over surgery. Device closure was planned after informed consent was obtained. Under local anesthesia and after infective endocarditis prophylaxis, the patient was taken for percutaneous vascular plugging of the fistula. Right ventricular saturation was 78%, and left ventricular saturation was 92% in room air. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 37 mmHg. The angiograms of the frontal and lateral projections showed a significantly tortuous course of the left lower pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula with an aneurysmal sac of 6 cm in diameter in its course (Figure 1B). The landing zone diameter was 16 cm, and the landing zone length was 2 cm after the origin of the left lower lobe segmental pulmonary artery branch (Figure 2A). A Terumo wire 0.35 cm × 260 cm in size (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan) was passed across the fistula from the left pulmonary artery through the sac far into the upper right pulmonary vein (Figure 2B). The insertion of a compatible 8-Fr sheath with its dilator was up to the sac was attempted but was not possible because of the tortuous course. The dilator was exchanged with a 5-Fr multipurpose diagnostic catheter, and the sheath was placed just proximal to the neck of the fistula. A 20-mm Amplatzer vascular plug (St. Jude Medical, Minnesota, United States) was deployed without any residual shunting (Figure 3, Video 3 and 4). The arterial oxygen saturation immediately increased to 98%. The patient was discharged on aspirin on day three after the procedure. Oral anticoagulation was avoided in this case because of bleeding issues related to multiple hemangiomas.

Figure 3 Pulmonary artery angiography after device deployment. Pulmonary artery angiography in the frontal projection and in the lateral projection showing perfect device positioning, no residual shunting and uncompromised blood flow in the left lower segmental artery. A: Frontal projection; B: Lateral projection.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

At the 2-mo follow-up, contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed the position of the vascular plug in situ; there was no residual shunting, and the patient’s room air saturation was 98%.

DISCUSSION

Incomplete degeneration of the partition between the arterial and venous plexus of the splanchnic pulmonary vascular bed leads to the formation of thin-walled sacs, resulting in the formation of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas, which may sometimes be absorbed into the left atrium, causing the pulmonary artery to form a left atrial fistula. The potential right-to-left shunt and aneurysmal dilatation of the pathway can cause thromboembolism and death due to rupture of the sac. The incidence of this kind of fistula is higher in males. Routine frontal chest X-ray examination may show perihilar vascular enlargement. Agitated saline contrast echocardiography could provide additional information when pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is suspected. A close differential diagnosis of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula must always be kept in mind[6]. Although invasive pulmonary angiography is diagnostic, it should be reserved for intervention because computed tomography angiography with three-dimensional reconstruction provides most of the information needed to decide whether a fistula can be percutaneously plugged by a device or requires surgical closure[7]. Various plugging devices, such as vascular plugs, duct occluders and septal defect occluders, can be used depending upon the tortuosity of the course, availability of the landing zone and available delivery sheath and age of the patient. The plug can be deployed with or without an arteriovenous loop depending on the tortuosity of the course and size of the fistula[8] with or without general anesthesia depending upon the age of the patient.

The proximal part of the left lower lobe pulmonary artery was tortuous before its division into anterior and posterior segmental branches. The sac was located along the course of the anterior segmental artery. We faced five major challenges to the catheter-based intervention in this case. (1) Negotiation of the 8-Fr sheath with its stiff default dilator was not possible; we overcame this difficulty by using a 5-Fr multipurpose catheter and substituting the dilator; (2) Although device implantation could have been performed using a transseptal approach with or without a loop, we could manage the antegrade approach from the pulmonary artery because of the good support provided by the guidewire in the upper right pulmonary vein; (3) The proximal end of the landing zone in this case was quite close to the ostium of a large posterior segmental left pulmonary artery branch, but the procedure was completed well because of the proper device selection, which is evident in the provided video clips (Video 3 and 4); (4) The possibility of device embolization in this case was avoided by proper identification of the landing zone and its diameter and the selection of a well-fitting device; and (5) Although there was a fair indication for oral anticoagulation to prevent atheroembolism from the aneurysmal sac after device implantation, we only administered aspirin to avoid bleeding issues related to multiple hemangiomas. Percutaneous closure is preferred to open heart surgery whenever the anatomy allows, as in this case.

CONCLUSION

Left pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula is relatively uncommon compared to right pulmonary artery-to-left atrial fistula. Percutaneous closure by either a transeptal technique or guide wire insertion in the pulmonary vein through the pulmonary artery is preferred. The need for an arteriovenous loop depends upon the tortuosity of the course of the fistula and this size of the device to be implanted because a larger device needs a larger sheath, necessitating firm guide wire support to facilitate negotiation of the stiff combination of the delivery sheath and dilator.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are extremely thankful to Mr. Pramanik S for his kind support during the procedure as our senior catheterization laboratory technician.