Limb traumatic arteriovenous fistula: experience of 26 cases

• Published in: Annales de cardiologie et d'angeiologie Vol. 59; no. 2; p. 67
• Main Authors: Bokhabrine, M K, Bouziane, Z, Lahlou, Z, Lekhal, B, Bensaid, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Angiography; Arteriovenous Fistula - diagnosis; Arteriovenous Fistula - etiology; Arteriovenous Fistula - surgery; Axillary Artery - injuries; Axillary Vein - injuries; Brachial Artery - injuries; Child; Female; Femoral Artery - injuries; Femoral Vein - injuries; Humans; Lower Extremity - blood supply; Lower Extremity - injuries; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ultrasonography, Doppler; Upper Extremity - blood supply; Upper Extremity - injuries; Vascular Surgical Procedures; Wounds, Penetrating - complications; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1768-3181
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ancard.2010.01.002

Posttraumatic arteriovenous fistulas are not a rare event in military facilities during periods of armed conflicts, but are seldom seen in the civilian health care system. We report our approach to the management of 26 cases of posttraumatic limb arteriovenous fistulas colligated from 1996 to 2006. The main cause of our posttraumatic arteriovenous fistulas is the penetrating traumatism. Arteriography was the mostly used imaging exploration. The treatment was surgical for 24 patients. One case of thrombosis was reported. Our series of posttraumatic fistulas is characterized by a particularly high rate of penetrating trauma, in which case intervention is the rule. Our study shows that, in our experience, surgical treatment is still a safe and efficient therapeutic attitude.