Author, Donkey, Bureaucrats, Administrators
53,803
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
New page: ===Description=== *As the name implies, an arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal direct connection between an artery and a vein. This connection causes the capillary circulation to be com...
===Description===
*As the name implies, an arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal direct connection between an artery and a vein. This connection causes the capillary circulation to be completely ignored. We will concentrate on peripheral fistulas here.
'''The consequences of an arteriovenous fistula are the following:'''
1. Increased blood return to the right heart raises cardiac output
2. Decreased blood perfusion at the affected site
3. Venous hypertension
*Predisposing causes of arteriovenous fistula formations are: trauma, surgery, neoplasia, etc.
===Diagnosis===
====History & Clinical Signs====
*Signs depend on where the AV fistula has formed.
-Subcutaneous edema
-Warm Swelling
-Inflammation
-Pain +/-
-Palpable vibration (thrill) over fistula
-Increased pulse & heart rate
-Audible continuous murmur over the fistula site
-Branham sign (decreased heart rate with surgical occlusion of blood flow to fistula)
====Angiography====
-Abnormal direct connection between an artery and a vein
====Ultrasonography====
-Abnormal flow visualized
===Treatment===
-Surgical ligation of abnormal vessels to and from the fistula area
-(+/-) Amputation
===Prognosis===
-Good with complete ligation and cessation of blood flow through the fistula
-Poor if surgical ligation is unsuccessful at stopping blood flow through the fistula[[Category:Arterial_Pathology]][[Category:To_Do_-_Cardiovascular]]
*As the name implies, an arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal direct connection between an artery and a vein. This connection causes the capillary circulation to be completely ignored. We will concentrate on peripheral fistulas here.
'''The consequences of an arteriovenous fistula are the following:'''
1. Increased blood return to the right heart raises cardiac output
2. Decreased blood perfusion at the affected site
3. Venous hypertension
*Predisposing causes of arteriovenous fistula formations are: trauma, surgery, neoplasia, etc.
===Diagnosis===
====History & Clinical Signs====
*Signs depend on where the AV fistula has formed.
-Subcutaneous edema
-Warm Swelling
-Inflammation
-Pain +/-
-Palpable vibration (thrill) over fistula
-Increased pulse & heart rate
-Audible continuous murmur over the fistula site
-Branham sign (decreased heart rate with surgical occlusion of blood flow to fistula)
====Angiography====
-Abnormal direct connection between an artery and a vein
====Ultrasonography====
-Abnormal flow visualized
===Treatment===
-Surgical ligation of abnormal vessels to and from the fistula area
-(+/-) Amputation
===Prognosis===
-Good with complete ligation and cessation of blood flow through the fistula
-Poor if surgical ligation is unsuccessful at stopping blood flow through the fistula[[Category:Arterial_Pathology]][[Category:To_Do_-_Cardiovascular]]