[Dural arteriovenous fistula, a rare cause of congestive heart failure in elderly patients].
BACKGROUND
Arteriovenous fistula is a curable cause of high output congestive heart failure.


METHODS
An 89-year-old woman was hospitalized for acute heart failure. The presence of a continuous murmur in the right carotid artery suggested an arteriovenous fistula. Arteriography showed a dural fistula of the right lateral sinus and confirmed the diagnostic hypothesis. Embolization was ruled out because of the patient's clinical condition, but medical treatment produced a satisfactory outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical diagnosis of an arteriovenous fistula is based on the characteristic murmur. We report the first case of a dural arteriovenous fistula manifested by congestive heart failure in an elderly patient.
Mazat
Lise
L
Département de médecine gériatrique, Centre Henri Choussat, Hôpital Xavier Arnozan, Pessac. lmazat@yahoo.fr
Emeriau
Jean-Paul
JP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020785:Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans