Cerebral arteriovenous fistula producing temporary heart failure in a newborn infant. Report of prolonged survival without surgical therapy.

Abstract

Cerebral arteriovenous malformations producing heart failure in in fancy with or without neurologic manifestations are usually fatal. This infant with a large cerebral arteriovenous fistula exhibited severe heart failure at 12 hours of age, yet never had any neurologic abnormality. His heart failure regressed with medical management. At 20 months of age the only abnormality on physical examination was a cranial bruit. An arteriovenous fistula anywhere in the body can cause conges tive heart failure in infancy, even in the absence of localizing symptoms.