Objective: The aim of the present study was to consider the importance of
medical information obtained via the Internet for difficult cases in hospitals, especially
in those located in rural areas. We report here a case of congenital arteriovenous fistula
(AVF) in the upper extremities.Patient: A 30-year-old lady was transported to our hospital by ambulance due
to massive bleeding in her left hand. She was seen by our current cardiovascular surgery
team for the first time, although she had been diagnosed with congenital AVF of the left
arm 9 years previously. Because it was asymptomatic, she was followed up by observation.
During 5 years of observation, symptoms such as cyanosis, pain, and refractory ulcers
gradually developed. When she was 26 years old, she was referred to a university hospital
in Akita, but surgery had already been judged to be impossible. When she was 30 years old,
traumatic bleeding in her left hand and hemorrhagic shock led her to be taken to our
hospital by ambulance. Using the Internet, we found an institution that had treated a
large number of cases of AVF. After controlling the bleeding, we referred her to that
institution. However, she could not be treated without an above-elbow amputation.Conclusion: Congenital AVF in the upper extremities is a rare vascular
anomaly and has been generally accepted to be an extremely difficult disease to treat.
Treatment should be started as early as possible before the presence of any symptoms. When
a specialist is not available near the hospital, precise information must be found using
the Internet and the patient should be referred without any delay.