Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T23:39:40.279Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Retrograde flow in the distal aortic arch and proximal descending aorta—a clue to presence of a major cerebral arteriovenous malformation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Andrew M. Davis
Affiliation:
From the Department of Cardiology, Royal Children's Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne
Samuel Menahem*
Affiliation:
From the Department of Cardiology, Royal Children's Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne
*
Correspondence to Professor Samuel Menahem, Department of Cardiology, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Tel. 61 3 345-5712; Fax. 61 3 347-5708.

Summary

Two neonates are described presenting in severe cardiac failure within a few hours of birth. Echocardiography and the demonstration by color-coded Doppler of retrograde diastolic flow in the proximal descending aorta suggested the presence of large cerebral arteriovenous malformations. Such lesions were demonstrated by cranial ultrasound. The early diagnosis permitted early intervention, albeit with less than satisfactory outcome.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Cunliffe, PN. Cerebral arteriovenous aneurysm presenting with heart failure. Br Heart J 1974; 36: 919923.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Musewe, NN, Smallhorn, JF, Burrows, PE, Isukawa, T, Freedom, RM. Echocardiographic and Doppler evaluation of the aortic arch and brachiocephalic vessels in cerebral and systemicarteriovenous fistulas. J Am Col Cardiol, 1988; 12: 15291535.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Stonbridge, R, Westaby, S, Smallhorn, JF, Taylor, JFN. Intracranial arteriovenous malformation with aneurysm of the vein of Galen as cause of heart failure in infancy: echocardiographic diagnosis and results of treatment. Br Heart J 1983; 49: 157162.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4.Sirakoff, M, Nouri, S. Diagnosis of vein of Galen arteriovenous malformation by two dimensional ultrasound and pulsed Doppler method. Pediatrics 1982; 69: 8486.CrossRefGoogle Scholar