Medical Health Encyclopedia

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula

Alternative Names: Arteriovenous malformation - pulmonary Symptoms: Many patients have no symptoms. Some patients have difficulty breathing, shortness of breath with exertion, difficulty exercising, or bloody sputum. Nosebleeds may occur in patients with HHT. Text Continues Below Other symptoms that may occur include blue skin (cyanosis), clubbing of the fingers (enlargement of the tips of the fingers), and a murmur heard with a stethoscope placed over the malformation. Signs and tests: The oxygen saturation level in the blood is low. There may be an abnormally high red blood cell count. A chest radiograph usually reveals the abnormal blood vessels. A chest CT scan confirms the presence of the abnormal blood vessels. A pulmonary arteriogram (motion picture X-rays taken after the injection of dye) is used to make a "road map" of the abnormal blood vessels before surgery or other treatments.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.