title: Endovascular treatment of major abdominal arteriovenous fistulas: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the different outcomes of the endovascular repair of major abdominal arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs).
  
  
  METHODS
  An online systematic review of the literature was undertaken to identify all reported cases of endovascular repair of major AVFs, covering 9 major databases as well as relevant journals up to September 2013. Our own case was included. The primary outcome was technical success and mortality, the secondary outcome was the rate of complications and the operators' recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight articles were reviewed totaling a number of 54 patients including our own. The most common fistula site was the aortocaval segment. Aortic stent grafts were used in 78% of patients. Technical success was 94%. Intraoperative mortality was 0% with a 90-day mortality of 10%, half of which were not related to the primary pathology. Of the successful procedures, 12% of patients had major complications. One died before reintervention. All others had uneventful recoveries; 21% had minor complications treated conservatively. The majority of authors were in favor of this treatment modality.
authors: Cardiology Department, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon ghassan_nakad@hotmail.com.
authors: Ghassan
authors: G
authors: Nakad
authors: Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Ghassan
authors: G
authors: AbiChedid
authors: Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors: Raed
authors: R
authors: Osman
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000098:blood supply*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000401:mortality; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: aneurysm; aortic graft; aortocaval; arteriovenous fistula; endovascular