[Successful thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary arterio-venous fistula]

A 65-year-old female was admitted for further examination of an abnormal shadow on a chest roentgenogram. Chest computed tomography revealed a lobular nodule with blood vessels, which was diagnosed as pulmonary arterio-venous fistula (PAVF). Thoracoscopic resection was performed under general anesthesia. The fistula was situated directly below the pleura of the left lower lobe. Partial resection of the left lung including the PAVF was performed with an autosuture device dedicated to endoscopic surgery (Endo GIA II). The patient was discharged from our hospital 3 days after surgery without major complications. Mild hypoxemia was corrected after the surgery. Thoracoscopic resection is considered to be safe and useful for a solitary PAVF existing a peripheral field of the lung.