There may be a machinery murmur, especially on inspiration. A congenital malformation resulting in direct intrapulmonary connections between the pulmonary arteries and veins without an intervening capillary bed. This causes a right to left shunt with peripheral arterial oxygen desaturation.
Brain abscesses can develop due to lack of pulmonary capillary filtration of microorganisms.
Pulmonary angiography is diagnostic and is used to define the number, size and location of the fistulae. All rights reserved.