TY - JOUR
T1 - Fistulae of the internal thoracic vessels
T2 - Report of two cases
AU - Hassan, Ansar
AU - Campbell, Donald R.
AU - Bethune, Drew C.
AU - Ali, Imtiaz S.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Arteriovenous fistulae involving the internal thoracic vessels are extremely rare. The multiple causes, variable clinical presentation, and inconsistent delay of onset of clinical symptoms in addition to their rarity make their diagnosis difficult. However, the complications of untreated internal thoracic fistulae are potentially fatal, emphasizing the need to make a prompt and correct diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made and the investigational workup complete, treatment consists of either surgical ligation and excision or percutaneous transcatheter embolization. We report two cases of patients with internal thoracic fistulae: one arising as a complication of a tube thoracostomy and the other following an anterior thoracotomy. The second case report describes a rupture of the internal thoracic fistulae, a complication not reported earlier.
AB - Arteriovenous fistulae involving the internal thoracic vessels are extremely rare. The multiple causes, variable clinical presentation, and inconsistent delay of onset of clinical symptoms in addition to their rarity make their diagnosis difficult. However, the complications of untreated internal thoracic fistulae are potentially fatal, emphasizing the need to make a prompt and correct diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is made and the investigational workup complete, treatment consists of either surgical ligation and excision or percutaneous transcatheter embolization. We report two cases of patients with internal thoracic fistulae: one arising as a complication of a tube thoracostomy and the other following an anterior thoracotomy. The second case report describes a rupture of the internal thoracic fistulae, a complication not reported earlier.
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U2 - 10.1016/S1010-7940(01)01127-7
DO - 10.1016/S1010-7940(01)01127-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 11825756
AN - SCOPUS:0036172259
SN - 1010-7940
VL - 21
SP - 358
EP - 360
JO - European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery
JF - European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery
IS - 2
ER -