Vertebral arteriovenous fistula following central venous cannulation: a case report

The authors report a case of vertebral arteriovenous fistula that has been disclosed three years after central venous cannulation (CVC). The real incidence of this complication is discussed and various clinical presentations are enumerated. From a review of the literature, some recommendations are made to prevent the diagnosis from being missed and chiefly to reduce the risk of arterial puncture that results in fistula formation.