title: Iatrogenic vertebral arteriovenous fistula treated with a hemobahn stent-graft.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To illustrate the utility of color flow duplex ultrasound (CFDU) in the diagnosis and stent-graft treatment of a rare arteriovenous fistula (AVF) involving the vertebral artery and vein.
  
  
  METHODS
  An iatrogenic AVF involving the right vertebral artery and vein was diagnosed in a 45-year-old man using CFDU. Treatment was recommended due to the large volume of blood shunted through the fistula and the associated loud bruit. Endoluminal treatment involved deployment of a covered stent within the vertebral artery to exclude the fistula. Postoperative CFDU confirmed the success of the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CFDU can be utilized to accurately diagnose unusual lesions, such as AVFs involving the vertebral artery. The technique is also useful in planning treatment and monitoring the durability of stent-grafts implanted to obliterate this type of defect.
authors.affiliation: CardioVascular Centre, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. rhyangp@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Rhyan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Priestley
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D014711:Vertebral Artery