We describe the case of a 49-year old male patient who suffered a gunshot wound in the chest which transfixed the medial mediastinum. He was hemodynamically stable, but had tachycardia and tachypnea. He was submitted to integrated work-up with chest radiogram, transthoracic echocardiography, computerized chest tomography, and arteriography of the aortic arch. A traumatic fistula was evidenced between the brachiocephalic trunk and the brachiocephalic vein. Surgical repair was performed using extracorporeal circulation and deep hypothermia with total circulatory arrest. The patient progressed well and was discharged on the fifth day postoperatively.
Arteriovenous fistula; brachiocephalic trunk; firearms
