How to avoid and manage iatrogenic femoral arteriovenous fistulae?

ABSTRACT

Iatrogenic femoral arteriovenous fistula [AVF] is one of the most frequent complications of percutaneous vascular intervention. We report 3 cases of iatrogenic AVF; one followed coronary angiography and stent implantation and the other two followed permcath insertion for hemodialysis. A review of these cases and of the relevant literature showed that most of these iatrogenic AVF originated below the bifurcation of the common female artery [CFA], which indicates that an excessively distal puncture site is a possible anatomic explanation for the formation of iatrogenic AVF. All the cases were managed successfully by open surgery