- Case report
- Open Access
- Open Peer Review
Hybrid management of a spontaneous ilio-iliac arteriovenous fistula: a case report
https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-401
© O'Brien et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011
- Received: 5 January 2011
- Accepted: 22 August 2011
- Published: 22 August 2011
Abstract
Introduction
Spontaneous iliac arteriovenous fistulae are a rare clinical entity. Such localized fistulation is usually a result of penetrating traumatic or iatrogenic injury. Clinical presentation can vary greatly but commonly includes back pain, high-output congestive cardiac failure and the presence of an abdominal bruit. Diagnosis, therefore, is often incidental or delayed.
Case presentation
We report a case of a spontaneous ilio-iliac arteriovenous fistula in a 68-year-old Caucasian man detected following presentation with unilateral claudication and congestive cardiac failure. Following computed tomography evaluation, the fistula was successfully treated with a combined endovascular (aorto-uni-iliac device) and open (femoro-femoral crossover) approach.
Conclusion
Endovascular surgery has revolutionized the management of such fistulae and we report an interesting case of a high-output iliac arteriovenous fistulae successfully treated with a hybrid vascular approach.
Keywords
- Inferior Vena Cava
- Laparoscopic Appendectomy
- Common Iliac Artery
- Ankle Brachial Index
- Aortic Bifurcation
Introduction
Spontaneous iliac arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are a rare clinical entity. Such localized fistulation is usually a result of penetrating traumatic or iatrogenic injury [1]. Clinical presentation can vary greatly but commonly includes back pain, high-output congestive cardiac failure (CCF) and the presence of an abdominal bruit. Diagnosis, therefore, is often incidental or delayed [2].
Case presentation
Preoperative CT. Preoperative contrast-enhanced CT 3-D reconstruction with arrow demonstrating the 8 cm ilio-iliac AV fistula originating from the proximal right CIA.
Pre-operative discussions focused on finding an endovascular strategy to solve the problem. As no normal caliber proximal right CIA existed, an isolated iliac covered stent was impossible as no proximal sealing zone existed. This required sealing a proximal stent in his aorta. Bifurcated endografts have been used to seal ilio-iliac fistulae previously [1]. The aortic bifurcation diameter was 19 mm in this case and although some devices have reported success negotiating smaller aortic bifurcations [2], we felt an aorto-bi-iliac graft would be in danger of being compressed at the bifurcation with a high risk of occlusion. As a result, a hybrid approach with deployment of an aorto-uni-iliac (AUI) device followed by a femoro-femoral bypass was planned. Our patient was operated upon in our endovascular suite (Siemens) under spinal anesthesia. Both common femoral arteries (CFA) were controlled and cannulated with 6Fr sheaths (Johnston & Johnston). His aorta was cannulated with a 0.035 wire Bentson wire (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA) via each CFA with the assistance of an angled catheter (Kumpe, Cook Medical). A diagnostic flush pigtail catheter was placed in his aorta via the contralateral limb. A stiff 0.035 Amplatz wire (Amplatz Super Stiff, Boston Scientific) was exchanged as access to the ipsilateral limb. Following an angiogram to confirm renal anatomy, an aorto-uni-iliac device (Zenith Renu, Cook Medical) was deployed from immediately below his renal arteries to his mid right external iliac artery, thus occluding his right internal iliac artery. A 14 × 10 mm Amplatzer occlusion device (AGA Medical Corp, MN, USA) was deployed via the contralateral limb to his proximal left CIA. A completion angiogram confirmed exclusion of the ilio-iliac AVF. A right to left femoro-femoral bypass with 8 mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was performed to re-establish flow to his left leg as well as providing left internal iliac perfusion.
Postoperative CT. Postoperative CT 3-D reconstruction showing endovascular exclusion of the AV fistula with an aorto-uni-iliac graft (white arrow) and a functioning right to left femoro-femoral cross-over bypass (red arrow).
Discussion
Penetrating traumatic injury remains the most common cause of abdominal and pelvic arteriovenous fistulae [3]. This trauma may be malicious but is frequently iatrogenic, commonly occurring after lumbosacral laminectomy whereupon penetration of the anterior longitudinal ligament by dissecting instruments can injure the aorta, IVC or iliac vessels, depending on the level of the laminectomy [4]. Linton and White first reported such a case in 1945 [5]. Case reports also exist of fistulation following aortic aneurysm surgery and even after laparoscopic appendectomy [6]. Post-traumatic AVFs may present many years after the initial injury, some reporting a traumatic history as distant as 30 to 52 years previously [7]. In such cases, the remote injury in combination with the diverse and subtle modes of presentation can result in delayed or overlooked diagnosis of the fistula. Typical symptoms include back pain (70%) and progressive sequelae from high output CCF (such as orthopnoea, edema and fatigue) [4]. An abdominal bruit is commonly demonstrable (80%). Our patient reported unilateral, progressive leg claudication, confirmed with unilaterally reduced ABI and toe pressure readings. This reflected a steal phenomenon which was subsequently fully reversed following exclusion of the AVF. To the best of our knowledge, this interesting phenomenon has not previously been described.
Treatment of iliac AVFs in the open vascular surgical era was fraught with danger, with reported surgical mortality rates of 9-34%. Operative blood loss of six liters was common [8]. Acute presentations with spontaneous ruptures are thankfully rare (less than 4% of ruptured aneurysms [9]) but carry a significantly higher mortality rate.
Conclusion
The evolution of endovascular surgery has led to a paradigm shift in the approach to managing aneurysmal disease with a concomitant vast reduction in mortality and morbidity rates. The first endovascular exclusion of an iliocaval fistula appeared in 1995 [10]. We add to the literature this report of a successful endovascular exclusion of a giant, spontaneous, ilio-iliac AVF. Our case demonstrates several aspects of modern day vascular surgery such as the importance of preoperative imaging and planning, as well as the emerging role for a hybrid endovascular and open surgical approach to minimize operative morbidity as well as optimize long-term success for such complex vascular pathology.
Consent
Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.
Declarations
Authors’ Affiliations
References
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