What symptoms does an arteriovenous fistula cause?
In most cases the diagnosis is easy, as it follows a penetrating injury or an invasive procedure. The symptoms vary, depending on the extent of the escaping blood volume and the time that passed since the fistula developed. They become significant only in large and long-standing arteriovenous fistulae. [You should remember that an artificial fistula is made on the arms of people with non-functioning kidneys, when they are to be put on renal dialysis. The symptoms, therefore, are not so important for small or medium fistulae and are well controlled in the majority of cases]. There is a thrill over the area, as there is continuous blood flow through the communication. If one listens over the fistula. He may hear a machinery murmur, called after Nicoladoni-Branham. The limb distal to the communication may become cooler, with less strength and with a lower blood pressure. The heart rate may increase. The superficial veins will in due course become prominent. The limb may gradually become s
