Iatrogenic vertebral arteriovenous fistula treated with a hemobahn stent-graft.
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.
Priestley
Rhyan
R
CardioVascular Centre, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. rhyangp@hotmail.com
Bray
Peter
P
Bray
Alan
A
Hunter
Jenny
J
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