title: Post-sternotomy internal mammary arteriovenous fistula.
abstract: Arteriovenous fistula from the mammary artery is a rare complication following cardiac surgery. The fistula usually develops within the first 2 weeks after surgery and is initially asymptomatic. Typically, a continuous machinery murmur is heard along the parasternal border of the chest wall. A patient with an arteriovenous fistula between the right internal mammary artery and mammary vein following a combined aortic valve and coronary bypass operation is described. A transthoracic colour Doppler scan led to the diagnosis of the fistula. Because of potential late complications endovascular embolisation of the fistula was successfully performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK. rhaavers@online.no
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haaverstad
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Pugh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruttley
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008323:Mammary Arteries; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014680:Veins