[Congestive cardiac failure secondary to hepatico-portal arteriovenous fistula. Apropos of a case and review of the literature]

Abstract

A 66 year old man with mild hypertension developed congestive cardiac failure of rapid onset associated with a continuous epigastric murmur suggesting an arteriovenous fistula. Doppler ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and abdominal arteriography showed the fistula to arise from a large thrombosed aneurysm of the hepatic artery which had ruptured into the portal vein. Echocardiography and radionuclide angiography showed normal left ventricular systolic function. The patient underwent aneurysmorrhaphy and suture of the portal vein without any complications and the murmur and signs of cardiac failure disappeared. Histological examination showed the arterial lesion to be due to atherosclerosis. The authors underline the rarity of aneurysms of the hepatic artery and, above all, of their rupture into the portal system as there have only been 7 previously reported cases. Fistulae of the portal system are usually well tolerated, the commonest complication being portal hypertension. Cardiac failure is an exceptionally rare occurrence: it may be observed when the fistula develops suddenly and has a high flow rate, and in patients with abnormal myocardial function.