[Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas]

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF)--a rare inborn disease of respiratory system. During 32 yrs 19 observations of pulmonary AVF were made. There were 13 (68.4%) men and 6 (31.6%) women. The patients' age was 25 yrs at average. In 4 (21.1%) patients there was Rendu-Weber-Osler disease diagnosed. Characteristic complaints were acrocyanosis, dyspnea while on loading, rapid fatigue. In accordance to laboratory investigation performed, polycytemia and hypoxemia were revealed. All the patients were operated on, most frequent operation was lobectomy--in 14 (73.6%). Multiple AVF were revealed in 4 (21.1%) patients. The postoperative period course was without complications in 15 (78.9%) patients. One patient (5.3%) died, aged 24 yrs old, suffering bilateral AVF, in 24 days after right-sided lower lobectomy from the bleeding, occurring in contralateral lung and asphyxia.