Arteriovenous fistulas of the extracranial vertebral artery are rare. The authors report a case of a spontaneous arteriovenous fistula of the extracranial vertebral artery presenting as an osteolytic lesion at the body of the axis. The patient presented with headache and posterior neck pain. The fistula was obliterated by an endovascular trapping.
Adult ; Arteriovenous Fistula/*pathology/surgery ; Axis/*pathology ; Case Report ; Follow-Up Studies ; Human ; Male ; Osteolysis/pathology ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Vertebral Artery/*pathology/surgery

Inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula is rare and may be congenital or acquired. Affected patients present with abdominal pain, mass, or manifestations of portal hypertension and bowel ischemia. Until now, inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula due to trauma has not been reported. Herein, we report a case of a 53-year-old woman who had inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula considered to have originated from remote blunt trauma that was successfully treated by surgical resection of only the arteriovenous fistula without colectomy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of traumatic inferior mesenteric arteriovenous fistula.
Arteriovenous Fistula/*diagnosis/pathology/surgery ; Colonoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDSurgical resection remains the treatment of choice for pulmonary arteriovenous malformation but removes some normal lung parenchyma. This study aimed to evaluate the effect and safety of the lung-saving procedure of fistulectomy as an alternative to lung resection.

METHODSFrom July 2003 to July 2008, 6 selected patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations underwent fistulectomies. Among them, 1 patient underwent emergency operation and 2 underwent bilateral operations. One patient received postoperative embolotherapy.

RESULTSNo hospital deaths or postoperative morbidity occurred. PaO2 increased significantly after operation. All patients were free of symptoms and hypoxia during a follow-up for 9 months to 5 years.

CONCLUSIONSFistulectomy is a safe and effective procedure for patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation and may be an alternative to lung resection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Fistula ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; Pulmonary Veins ; abnormalities

Arteriovenous Fistula ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Hemoptysis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Pulmonary Veins ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

INTRODUCTIONThe incidence of coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) varies from 0.2% to 8.4%. Knowledge of such anatomical variations is important as coronary procedures are regularly performed these days. We aimed to find the coronary dominance pattern, intermediate artery (IMA) frequency and CAA incidence in our clinic, and compare them to those in the literature.

METHODSThe medical reports of 5,548 patients who had undergone coronary angiography (CAG) between 2005 and 2009 were retrospectively investigated. Dominance pattern and presence of IMA and CAA were recorded. CAAs were described using two different classifications: Angelini and Khatami's classification, and a new modified classification that was derived from Angelini and Khatami's classification. Some procedural details and clinical features of the patients with CAA were also investigated.

RESULTSCoronary dominance pattern was: 81.6% right coronary artery, 12.2% circumflex artery and 6.2% co-dominant. IMA was present in 613 (11.0%) patients. The incidences of overall anomaly were 2.7% and 1.4%, according to the different classifications. Absent left main coronary artery, which was the most common anomaly in the present study, was found in 51 (0.9%) patients. Incidences of myocardial bridge, coronary arteriovenous fistulae and aneurysms were 1.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONCAAs are generally asymptomatic, isolated lesions. Some may lead to anginal symptoms, myocardial infarction or sudden death. We found that CAA was associated with increased radiation and contrast exposure in patients who underwent CAG. This risk could be reduced if appropriate catheters were designed and training programmes on ostial cannulation were developed.

Adult ; Aged ; Anatomic Variation ; Aneurysm ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; Coronary Vessel Anomalies ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Coronary Vessels ; anatomy & histology ; surgery ; Death, Sudden ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to screen and follow-up spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (SDAVF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between MRI findings and neurologic function in SDAVF. This study also investigated clinical features and treatment results of SDAVF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 consecutive patients who underwent embolization or surgery for SDAVF were included. We treated seven (60%) patients with embolization and six (40%) with surgery. We analysed clinical features, MRI findings, treatment results, and neurologic function. Neurologic function was measured by the Aminoff-Logue disability scale (ALS). RESULTS: Patients with longer levels of intramedullary high signal intensity in preoperative T2-weighted images (T2WI) exhibited worse pre- and postoperative ALS scores (r=0.557, p=0.031; r=0.530, p=0.042, Pearson correlation). Preoperative ALS score was significantly correlated with postoperative ALS score (r=0.908, p=0.000, Pearson correlation). The number of levels showing intramedullary high signal intensity in T2WI decreased significantly postoperatively (5.2+/-3.1 vs. 1.0+/-1.4, p=0.001, Wilcoxon ranked test). CONCLUSION: The number of involved levels of high signal intensity in preoperative T2WI is useful for predicting pre- and postoperative neurologic function in SDAVF.
Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula/*pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations/*pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spinal Cord/abnormalities/*blood supply/pathology/surgery ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used to screen and follow-up spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae (SDAVF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between MRI findings and neurologic function in SDAVF. This study also investigated clinical features and treatment results of SDAVF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 15 consecutive patients who underwent embolization or surgery for SDAVF were included. We treated seven (60%) patients with embolization and six (40%) with surgery. We analysed clinical features, MRI findings, treatment results, and neurologic function. Neurologic function was measured by the Aminoff-Logue disability scale (ALS). RESULTS: Patients with longer levels of intramedullary high signal intensity in preoperative T2-weighted images (T2WI) exhibited worse pre- and postoperative ALS scores (r=0.557, p=0.031; r=0.530, p=0.042, Pearson correlation). Preoperative ALS score was significantly correlated with postoperative ALS score (r=0.908, p=0.000, Pearson correlation). The number of levels showing intramedullary high signal intensity in T2WI decreased significantly postoperatively (5.2+/-3.1 vs. 1.0+/-1.4, p=0.001, Wilcoxon ranked test). CONCLUSION: The number of involved levels of high signal intensity in preoperative T2WI is useful for predicting pre- and postoperative neurologic function in SDAVF.
Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; Arteriovenous Fistula/*pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations/*pathology/radiography/*surgery ; Embolization, Therapeutic/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spinal Cord/abnormalities/*blood supply/pathology/surgery ; Treatment Outcome