An arteriovenous fistula (AV) is an abnormal connection that develops between an artery and a vein. When blood is carried throughout the body, it normally travels through arteries, into capillaries, and then into veins, where it is pumped back to the heart. When an arteriovenous fistula is present in the body, blood flows directly from the artery to the vein via the unnatural passage that has developed, and the capillary is bypassed altogether. Arteriovenous fistula is a potentially serious medical condition that can cause blood pressure to drop and the heart to fail.
Detecting Arteriovenous fistula:
Arteriovenous fistulas can develop in any part of the body, including the limbs, eyes, brain, and lungs. Because of this, a variety of symptoms may be present, depending on where the abnormality has formed.
If an arteriovenous fistula has formed close to the surface of the skin, a person may experience symptoms such as these:
Veins may bulge and appear discolored. Veins affected by arteriovenous fistula are frequently mistaken for varicose veins, because both conditions, through weakness, damage, and stretching, cause the veins to bulge and become unsightly and dark blue or purple;
– Conspicuous purple veins in the face that may be unsightly could indicate an arteriovenous fistula in the head.
An arteriovenous fistula that has developed in the lungs could manifest itself with the following symptoms:
– Shortness of breath, especially after physical exertion;
– Difficulty breathing;
– Blood in sputum.
Some people with an arteriovenous fistula never experience any associated symptoms. A number of arteriovenous fistula abnormalities are small, and may be able to be naturally corrected by the body over time. If, however, a person does experience the symptoms associated with arteriovenous fistula, they should make arrangements to see their doctor. An undetected and untreated arteriovenous fistula is a potentially life-threatening condition. It can cause excessive pressure to build in the area, particularly dangerous if the AV is located near the brain or spine, and may even cause heart failure.
Diagnosing and Treating Arteriovenous fistula:
When a person discusses their concerns about the possible development of arteriovenous fistula, their doctor will be able to perform a variety of tests to confirm its presence. Testing for an arteriovenous fistula could proceed like this:
– Using a stethoscope to listen to possibly affected vein. A vein affected by an arteriovenous fistula will make a distinctive sound similar to that of a machine. For this reason it is called a “machinery murmur”, and is an excellent indicator of an arteriovenous fistula;
– Doppler ultrasonography may be able to confirm the possible presence of an arteriovenous fistula as implied by the sound of the machinery murmur. This technique can also show how serious the case of arteriovenous fistula is;
– Dye may be introduced into the blood stream, where its flow is monitored by an X-ray, showing the location of an arteriovenous fistula;
– An arteriovenous fistula affecting a deeper vein may be detected using magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI.
After the presence of an arteriovenous fistula has been confirmed and deemed to be enough of a problem, treatment may be sought.
Treatment of an arteriovenous fistula can be achieved in several ways, depending on the location of the AV and the degree of sensitivity of the affected area. The most common forms of treatment involve either surgery or injections.
The Surgical Procedure:
– Surgery to treat an arteriovenous fistula is performed by a skilled vascular surgeon, a type of surgeon that treats problems involving blood vessels;
– Before surgery, dye is introduced to the blood so the area affected by arteriovenous fistula can be more easily seen;
– An arteriovenous fistula in an area not threatened by surgery is removed with the use of lasers, or is cut out;
– An additional arteriovenous fistula is unlikely to appear after surgery.
The InjectionProcedure:
An arteriovenous fistula located in a sensitive area of the body, such as the brain, eye, or spinal cord, may be too dangerous to remove with surgery. Therefore, injection treatment may be used.
– Injections are used to introduce a substance into the arteriovenous fistula that will cause a blood clot to form, so blood will not flow through the arteriovenous fistula;
– A medical professional may insert markers call plugs or coils where the vein and artery meet to assist with the injecting;
– The injection procedure requires only the assistance of an X-ray machine.
Both procedures may require a period of bed rest for healing, and follow-up care will be recommended to make sure the arteriovenous fistula has been successfully treated without complications.