AV malformations

Question 1

How do patients with AV malformations normally present?

Answer 1

Visible lump

Usually painless

Question 2

How would you differentiate a venous malformation from an arterial one?

Answer 2

Venous: Non-pulsatile, no bruit. Hear venous blood on doppler. Often empty on raising digit, compressible.

Arterial: Pulsatile arterial signal heard with doppler.

Question 3

What does a venous malformation look like?

Answer 3

Bluish
Often raised
Sometimes painful

No cardiac compromise

Question 4

What is more common, an arterial or venous malformation?

Answer 4

Venous

Question 5

How do AV malformations present?

Answer 5

Either limb atrophy (due to steal and no growth) or gross limb distension on any part of body

Question 6

What would you find on examination of an AV malformation?

Answer 6

NB are rare 
Pulsatile dilated veins
Obvious signal on hand held Doppler
May be significant shunt and cardiac failure
Limb atrophy or limb distension