[Endovascular treatment of post-traumatic arteriovenous fistulae]

[Surgical treatment of traumatic arteriovenous fistulas of extremities]

The number of victims with damage to the great vessels has increased in recent years due to escalation of armed conflicts. Vascular damages comprise 3% of traumatic injuries in peacetime, and their incidence increases to 15% during hostilities. False aneurysms and traumatic arteriovenous fistulas follow vascular injury in 48.9-68.7% of cases. We present open surgical treatment of traumatic arteriovenous fistulas. The issues of diagnosis, surgical tactics, algorithm of intervention and options for successful treatment are described.

Open liver trauma causing hepatico caval fistula successfully treated by embolization

Introduction

Traumatic arteriovenous fistula results from a breach of vascular integrity between a vein and an adjacent artery. Hepato caval fistula is a rare entity. Open surgical approaches have increasingly given way to radiological embolization techniques in the treatment of these arteriovenous fistulae, especially in intrahepatic locations.

Case report

We report the case of a patient diagnosed with a fistula, from the right branch of the liver artery to the right hepatic vein, developed following an open liver trauma. Successful embolization through the transarterial route was achieved with simple outcomes.

Conclusion

The interventional radiology for endovascular management has revolutionized the treatment of hepatic liver traumas. The conservative treatment is henceforth the common approach even if hepatic artery or hepatic veins are involved in case of arteriovenous fistula.