Treatment of postcatheterization femoral arteriovenous fistulas with simple prolonged bandaging.
BACKGROUND
The methods for the treatment of postcatheterization femoral arteriovenous fistulas (AVF-s) - simple observation, ultrasound guided compression, covered stents implantation and coil embolization have poor outcome. Surgery is the standard method for treatment of femoral AVFs, but it is a traumatic operation. In this study, we report the results of the treatment of postcatheterization femoral AVFs by simple prolonged compressing bandage.


METHODS
To treat iatrogenic femoral AVFs caused by transfemoral catheterization, prolonged binding with elastic or common bandage was applied in 16 cases. Catheterization was performed in 7 cases for radiofrequency current catheter ablation, in 4 for occlusion of congenital heart disease, in 3 for percutaneous coronary intervention, in 1 for coronary angiography and in 1 for right heart catheterization.


RESULTS
All iatrogenic femoral AVFs were healed after simple binding with elastic or common bandage for 4 - 46 days (mean (15 +/- 10) days). During the period of binding, local skins ulceration occurred at puncture site in two cases and femoral vein thrombus was found in one patient. During 6 - 24 months (mean (11.8 +/- 3.6) months) followup with colour Doppler ultrasonography, no recurrent arteriovenous shunting or other complications were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that simple prolonged bandaging for postcatheterization femoral AVFs is an effective and economical procedure.
Zhou
Tao
T
Department of Cardiology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Liu
Zhen-jiang
ZJ
Zhou
Sheng-hua
SH
Shen
Xiang-qian
XQ
Liu
Qi-ming
QM
Fang
Zhen-fei
ZF
Hu
Xin-qun
XQ
Li
Jiang
J
Lü
Xiao-lin
XL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001458:Bandages; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged