Chronic traumatic popliteal arteriovenous fistula: Case report

Chronic popliteal arteriovenous fistula is a common result of penetrating vascular trauma. Such a case, involving a young, active-duty soldier who received a gunshot wound to the back of his left leg, is reported. Operative findings confirmed the presence of a fistula and a dilated, tortuous popliteal vein. A 1-cm communication between the main popliteal vein and artery just above the knee was found. Division, with lateral venorrhaphy and end-to-end repair of the artery, was performed, with good results. Particularly stressed in this report is the importance of increased physician awareness, combined with an aggressive surgical approach to reduce the morbidity, especially the high amputation rate so often associated with this kind of penetrating vascular trauma.