Arteriovenous fistulas of the internal mammary artery. Review of the literature.

Arteriovenous fistulas of the internal mammary artery are rare. This second recorded instance of congestive heart failure from such a fistula occurred in an aged patient 19 years after a gunshot wound. The etiologic and pathophysiologic classifications of 19 cases already reported in the world literature are discussed, as are symptoms, diagnostic methods, and observations during management of this type of fistula.