Management of traumatic arteriovenous fistulas: A tertiary academic center experience

To present the surgical experience at a tertiary academic center of treating patients with traumatic arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) who in whom endovascular treatment was contraindicated or in whom unsuccessful endovascular treatment had been performed.

A total of 27 patients with traumatic AVFs who underwent surgery between September 2014 and May 2016 were included. The site of injury, timing of surgery, and the surgical methods utilized were analyzed retrospectively.

Arteriovenous fistulas were located in the lower extremity in 26 patients (96.29%) and in the upper extremity in one patient (3.7%). Etiological factors included gunshot injuries in 23 patients (85.18%) and penetrating injury in four patients (14.81%). AVFs in the lower extremity were between the popliteal artery and vein in 21 patients and between the femoral artery and vein in five patients. The one patient with upper-extremity AVF had a communication between the brachial artery and cephalic vein. Primary repair of the artery and vein after ligation, arterial graft interposition plus primary vein repair, and arterial and venous graft interposition were performed for surgical repair in two, five, and 20 patients, respectively. The saphenous vein was used for grafting in all cases needing grafts.

In patients enduring penetrating trauma in the close vicinity of major vascular structures, a detailed history-taking and physical examination should be performed along with auscultation. The endovascular approach may represent the initial choice of management because of its lower rate of complications, noninvasive nature, decreased in-hospital costs, and decreased loss of work productivity. However, surgery is still unavoidable option in a significant proportion of patients who are either hemodynamically unstable, contraindicated for endovascular treatment, or in whom endovascular treatment was unsuccessful.