Delayed diagnosis of post-traumatic arteriovenous fistula from trip wire-detonated booby trap in Vietnam.

Traumatic arteriovenous fistulas are very common, especially with penetrating injuries. Undiagnosed traumatic arteriovenous fistulas for long periods, as in this case, however, are less frequent because the patient often experiences clinical manifestations associated with arteriovenous shunting. This patient denied any history of problems that might be associated with this arteriovenous shunting. He was operated on for the arteriovenous fistula and had an uneventful postoperative course.