Recurrent vertebral arteriovenous fistula after surgical repair: treatment with a self-expanding stent-graft.
OBJECTIVE
To describe successful endovascular repair of a recurrent vertebral arteriovenous fistula (AVF) after surgical correction.


METHODS
A 42-year-old woman presented with recurrent dizziness, nausea, and headaches. A loud bruit in the right neck was present. Central venous catheter insertion had been done 1 year previously, creating an angiographically documented right-sided vertebral AVF that was successfully excluded by a surgical procedure. Four weeks later, the AVF reappeared. Successful endovascular repair with a self-expanding stent-graft was performed. Follow-up over 12 months was uneventful, with a patent vertebral artery and no recurrence of symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Endovascular stent-graft repair is feasible and offers a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of vertebral AVF, in particular for recurrence after initial surgery. This minimally invasive method may become the treatment of choice in the management of such lesions, preserving patency of the vertebral artery.
Surber
Ralf
R
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology and Angiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
Werner
Gerald S
GS
Cohnert
Tina U
TU
Wahlers
Thorsten
T
Figulla
Hans R
HR
D000328:Adult; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*