Spontaneous major intra-abdominal arteriovenous fistulas: a report of several cases

Most major intra-abdominal fistulas result from trauma or surgery. Spontaneous fistulas are rare with less than 100 reported cases since 1831. From a review of hospital records, five such spontaneous fistulas were identified among 215 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm between 1975 and 1983. These cases are presented and supplemented by 73 similar cases collected from a literature review for discussion of the salient features of clinical presentation and management of spontaneous major fistulas. Major intra-abdominal arteriovenous fistulas usually present with a machinery bruit over a pulsatile mass, but may present more subtly with pain and otherwise unexplained hematuria. Because these fistulas lead to refractory heart failure, surgery should be expeditious. Closure should be performed from within the aneurysm with arterial and pulmonary artery pressure monitoring. Care must be taken to prevent pulmonary embolization.