AORTOCAVAL FISTULA ASSOCIATED WITH ABDOMINAL AORTIC-ANEURYSM - A DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGE

The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical features with t he best preoperative diagnostic Value for aortocaval fistulas (ACF) as sociated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). A review of our experie nce of seven patients presenting ACF between 1980 and 1994 as well as an extensive study of the literature provide a clearer picture of the signs and symptoms allowing diagnosis of ACF: edema of the lower extre mities and signs of venous hypertension are the most predictive findin gs; continuous abdominal murmur is noted in 66% of cases and is of goo d diagnostic value.