Deadly Pulmonary Hypertension Cured With a Stent

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Interventional Radiology
• Cardiology

Background:

• Critical limb ischemia and pulmonary hypertension pose significant challenges in elderly patients.
• Arteriovenous fistulas can lead to complex hemodynamic alterations and venous insufficiency.

Observation:

• A 77-year-old woman presented with critical limb ischemia, venous insufficiency, and progressive pulmonary hypertension.
• Lower extremity angiography revealed a common iliac arteriovenous fistula.

Findings:

• The common iliac arteriovenous fistula was successfully treated with endovascular closure.
• A covered stent was deployed in the artery to achieve fistula exclusion.

Implications:

• Endovascular stent placement provides an effective treatment for common iliac arteriovenous fistulas.
• This approach may improve limb perfusion and potentially alleviate pulmonary hypertension symptoms in select patients.