Pulmonary Arteriovenous Fistula Drainage into the Left Atrium

Arteriovenous fistulas with venous drainage into the left atrium are a rare anomaly. Although the etiology of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas is unknown, these abnormalities are considered to have occurred during early fetal development. A case of this malformation in a 72-year-old woman successfully treated by surgery is described.

Key words:

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula - Shunt - Fetal malformation - Cyanosis

References

• 1 Churton T. Multiple aneurysms of the pulmonary artery.  Br Med J.. 1897;  1 1223
• 2 Prager R L, Laws K H, Bender H W. Arteriovenous fistula of the lung.  Ann Thorac Surg.. 1983;  36 231-9
• 3 Anabtawi I N, Ellison R G, Ellison L T. Pulmonary arteriovenous aneurysms and fistulas.  Ann Thorac Surg.. 1965;  1 277
• 4 Fiane A E, Stake G, Lindeberg H L. Congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistula.  Eur J Cardio-thorac Surg.. 1995;  9 166-8
• 5 Finkelstein R, Ebgel A, Simri W, Hemli J A. Brain abscesses: the lung connection.  J Intern Med.. 1996;  240 33-6
• 6 Freixinet J, Sanchez-Palacios M, Guerrero D, Rodrigues de Castro F, Gonzales D, Lopez L, Guerra M. Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula ruptured to pleural cavity in pregnancy.  Scand J Thor Cardiovasc Surg.. 1995;  29 39-41
• 7 Taylor B G, Cockerill E M, Manfredi F, Klatte E C. Therapeutic embolization of pulmonary artery in pulmonary arteriovenous fistula.  Am J Med.. 1978;  64 360-5
• 8 Halliday A W, Mansfield A O. CongenitaI arteriovenous malformations.  Br J Surg.. 1993;  80 2-3

Received for Publication: March 18, 1999