How to treat pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas

Condition analysis:
Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal connection between an artery and vein in the lungs. As a result, blood passes through the lungs without receiving enough oxygen.

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas are usually the result of abnormal development of the blood vessels of the lung. Most occur in patients with Rendu-Osler-Weber disease (ROWD) – now commonly called hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). These patients often have abnormal blood vessels in many parts of the body, including the lung.

Instructions:
A small number of patients who have no symptoms may not need treatment. For most patients with fistulas, the treatment of choice is to block the fistula during an arteriogram (embolization). Some patients may need surgery to remove the abnormal vessels and nearby lung tissue.