Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42419873›Full record

SynthesisOpen heart2026

Coronary artery fistulas: a systematic review and pooled analysis of anatomy, risk stratification and contemporary management.

Mattia Vinciguerra, Angelo Pisani, Federica Caldaroni, Giulio Garofalo, Charlene Tennyson, Mukesh Karuppannan, Scot Garg, Luca D'Ambrosio, Sara Saltarocchi, Mattia Galli and 4 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Open heart, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Mattia VinciguerraDepartment of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Angelo PisaniDepartment of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Federica CaldaroniDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Giulio GarofaloDepartment of Cardiac Surgery, S. G. Moscati Hospital, Avellino, Italy.
Charlene TennysonDivision of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington DC, USA.
Mukesh KaruppannanDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lancashire Cardiac Centre, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, UK.
Scot GargDepartment of Cardiology, Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Blackburn, UK.
Luca D'AmbrosioDepartment of Angiocardioneurology, IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli (IS), Italy.
Sara SaltarocchiDepartment of General Surgery, Surgical Specialty and Anesthesiology "Paride Stefanini", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Mattia GalliDepartment of Medical-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Latina, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3909-182X
Leonardo SchironeDepartment of Health and Life Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Ernesto GrecoDepartment of Health and Life Sciences, European University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Cristiano SpadaccioDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
David RoseDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Lancashire Cardiac Centre, Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, UK mr.rose@nhs.net.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7616-6283

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveCoronary artery fistulas (CAFs) are rare congenital or acquired anomalies characterised by abnormal coronary communications, with variable natural history and no consensus on optimal management.

methodsA comprehensive state-of-the-art review and pooled analysis of published literature was conducted, integrating clinical, anatomical, imaging, management and outcome data from 1966 patients with 1986 CAFs. Comparative descriptive analyses between complicated and uncomplicated cases were performed to identify recurring features associated with adverse clinical outcomes.

resultsSpecific anatomical and clinical patterns were more frequently observed in patients with complications, including fistulas originating from the right coronary artery or left main coronary artery, drainage into venous or left-sided structures, large-calibre fistulas and reduced ventricular function. Based on these recurring patterns, two pragmatic phenotypes of CAFs (higher-risk and lower-risk) were identified. Given the descriptive nature of the available evidence and the absence of formal multivariable modelling, these findings should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than indicative of independent predictors.

conclusionsCAFs are heterogeneous vascular anomalies with variable clinical presentation and substantial potential for complications. An integrated assessment of anatomical configuration, fistula size, drainage pattern and ventricular function may support structured clinical evaluation and individualised management. We propose a practical anatomy- and risk-informed framework to guide multidisciplinary decision-making and follow-up strategies.

Indexed as

Coronary Vessel AnomaliesCoronary VesselsVascular FistulaCoronary AngiographyHumansRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsTreatment OutcomeCardiac Surgical ProceduresCoronary AneurysmCoronary VesselsMultidetector Computed TomographyPercutaneous Coronary Intervention

Identifiers

PMID42419873
PMCPMC13347944

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.