title: Percutaneous embolization of vascular fistulas using coils or Amplatzer vascular plugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A great variety of different types of vascular fistula are referred to cardiac catheterization laboratories for diagnosis and percutaneous occlusion. In addition, a wide range of devices is available for treating them percutaneously. The objectives of this study were to assess the usefulness and difficulty of treating vascular fistulas percutaneously using controlled-release coils or Amplatzer vascular plugs and to report on the complications and overall outcomes observed with these two devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of percutaneous embolizations performed from January 2004 through June 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 51 vascular fistulas in 30 patients aged from 6 days to 28 years (mean, 8.4 years) underwent successful embolization. The underlying diagnoses were: 27 venous collaterals in 16 patients after the Glenn procedure, four surgical (i.e. Blalock-Taussig) fistulas, 11 pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in three patients, two aortopulmonary collateral arteries in two patients, one venous collateral in a patient who underwent the Fontan procedure, one aortopulmonary artery fistula in a patient with Scimitar syndrome, one coronary arteriovenous fistula, three systemic arteriovenous fistulas in a newborn, and one fistula from the left atrium to the superior vena cava after the repair of anomalous pulmonary venous return. The lesions were treated percutaneously using 34 vascular plugs and 19 coils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular fistulas can be occluded percutaneously with good
  
  
  RESULTS
  Small fistulas can be closed using coils, while vascular plugs are preferable for large lesions. Both devices are highly effective as occluders and no particular difficulty or significant complication was observed.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología y Hemodinámica Pediátrica, Area del Cor, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. jgirona@vhebron.net
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Girona
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martí
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Betrián
authors.forename: Ferrán
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gran
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Casaldàliga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016157:Vascular Fistula / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult