• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.280-284
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• 2003

Creation of an axillary arteriovenous fistula (AVF) was performed in two patients with high risks of Fontan operation after a cavopulmonary shunt. The patients complained of progressive cyanosis and decrease in exercise tolerance, and they showed pulmonary arteriovenous fistula on the pulmonary angiography. They were uneventfully transferred to the general ward on the first postoperative day and discharged 3 and 4 days after the operation respectively. There was no evidence of fistula-related volume loading and the other post-operative complications. An 8-month follow-up revealed improved symptoms such as, cyanosis and exercise intolerance, but not sufficient regression of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula on a lung perfusion scan and contrast echocardiography, which should be carefully checked hereafter.