Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026
Myocardial Infarction by Percutaneous Embolization Coil Deployment in a Swine Model
Published on: November 4, 2021
Percutaneous embolization of vascular fistulas using coils or Amplatzer vascular plugs
Josep Girona1, Gerard Martí, Pedro Betrián
1Servicio de Cardiología y Hemodinámica Pediátrica, Area del Cor, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. jgirona@vhebron.net
Insights
Percutaneous closure of vascular fistulas using coils or Amplatzer vascular plugs is effective. Coils are suitable for small fistulas, while plugs are better for larger ones, with no significant complications reported.
Area of Science:
- Interventional Cardiology
- Vascular Surgery
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Vascular fistulas require diagnosis and percutaneous occlusion.
- A variety of devices are available for percutaneous treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess the usefulness and difficulty of percutaneous treatment of vascular fistulas using controlled-release coils or Amplatzer vascular plugs.
- Report complications and outcomes of these two devices.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of percutaneous embolizations.
- Performed between January 2004 and June 2008.
Main Results:
- 51 vascular fistulas in 30 patients (6 days to 28 years) were successfully embolized.
- Treatments included venous collaterals, surgical fistulas, pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas, aortopulmonary collateral arteries, and others.
- 34 vascular plugs and 19 coils were used.
Conclusions:
- Vascular fistulas can be effectively occluded percutaneously.
- Small fistulas are best treated with coils; large fistulas with vascular plugs.
- Both devices are highly effective with no significant complications.
Introduction And Objectives:
A great variety of different types of vascular fistula are referred to cardiac catheterization laboratories for diagnosis and percutaneous occlusion. In addition, a wide range of devices is available for treating them percutaneously. The objectives of this study were to assess the usefulness and difficulty of treating vascular fistulas percutaneously using controlled-release coils or Amplatzer vascular plugs and to report on the complications and overall outcomes observed with these two devices.
Methods:
Retrospective review of percutaneous embolizations performed from January 2004 through June 2008.
Results:
In total, 51 vascular fistulas in 30 patients aged from 6 days to 28 years (mean, 8.4 years) underwent successful embolization. The underlying diagnoses were: 27 venous collaterals in 16 patients after the Glenn procedure, four surgical (i.e. Blalock-Taussig) fistulas, 11 pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas in three patients, two aortopulmonary collateral arteries in two patients, one venous collateral in a patient who underwent the Fontan procedure, one aortopulmonary artery fistula in a patient with Scimitar syndrome, one coronary arteriovenous fistula, three systemic arteriovenous fistulas in a newborn, and one fistula from the left atrium to the superior vena cava after the repair of anomalous pulmonary venous return. The lesions were treated percutaneously using 34 vascular plugs and 19 coils.
Conclusions:
Vascular fistulas can be occluded percutaneously with good
Results:
Small fistulas can be closed using coils, while vascular plugs are preferable for large lesions. Both devices are highly effective as occluders and no particular difficulty or significant complication was observed.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
01:26Varicose Veins II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:29Pulmonary Embolism II: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:27Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
01:25Hemodialysis I: Introduction