Abdominal arteriovenous (A-V) fistulas may be spontaneous or secondary to trauma.
The clinical manifestations of abdominal A-V fistulas are variable, but cutaneous findings are common and may be suggestive of the diagnosis.
Cutaneous physical examination findings consistent with abdominal A-V fistula include lower extremity edema with cyanosis, pulsatile varicose veins, and scrotal edema.
We present a patient admitted to the hospital with lower extremity swelling, discoloration, and pain, as well as renal insufficiency.
During a prior hospitalization she was diagnosed with venous stasis dermatitis; however, her physical examination findings were not consistent with that diagnosis.
Imaging studies identified and characterized an abdominal aortocaval fistula.
We propose that dermatologists add abdominal A-V fistula to the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with lower extremity edema with cyanosis, and we summarize other physical examination and laboratory findings that may suggest the diagnosis.
2011-08-15
Eng.
Cutis; cutaneous medicine for the practitioner
Department of Dermatology, Texas A&M College of Medicine, Temple, and Scott & White Memorial Hospital, Temple, USA.
Cutis. 2011 Jun;87(6):284-6
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