Endovascular treatment of major abdominal arteriovenous fistulas: a systematic review

To review the different outcomes of the endovascular repair of major abdominal arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs).

An online systematic review of the literature was undertaken to identify all reported cases of endovascular repair of major AVFs, covering 9 major databases as well as relevant journals up to September 2013. Our own case was included. The primary outcome was technical success and mortality, the secondary outcome was the rate of complications and the operators' recommendations.

Forty-eight articles were reviewed totaling a number of 54 patients including our own. The most common fistula site was the aortocaval segment. Aortic stent grafts were used in 78% of patients. Technical success was 94%. Intraoperative mortality was 0% with a 90-day mortality of 10%, half of which were not related to the primary pathology. Of the successful procedures, 12% of patients had major complications. One died before reintervention. All others had uneventful recoveries; 21% had minor complications treated conservatively. The majority of authors were in favor of this treatment modality.