[Pulsed Doppler echocardiography in a case of coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula: analysis of flow pattern within the main pulmonary artery and detection of a small shunt].

Flow pattern within the main pulmonary artery was analysed by pulsed Doppler echocardiography in a case of coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula. An asymptomatic 32-year-old female was referred to our hospital for evaluation of a continuous murmur in the second interspace at the left sternal border. Other physical findings, chest roentgenograms and electrocardiograms were normal. Two-dimensional echocardiography did not play an important role in the diagnosis. However, pulsed Doppler echocardiography revealed an antegrade turbulent flow along the antero-lateral wall of the main pulmonary artery from early diastole to early systole. The direction and distribution of this abnormal flow was judged to be different from that of patent ductus arteriosus. Coronary arteriography showed a fistula from the both coronary arteries to the proximal portion of the main pulmonary artery. However, its shunt was so small that it could not be detected by oxymetry or by hydrogen-platinum electrode method. This case suggests that Doppler method is very sensitive in shunt detection and possibly useful for non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula.