Chronic Enlarged Iatrogenic Radial Arteriovenous Fistula

Intravenous and arterial lines are common procedures performed in neonatal intensive care units. We report a case of a 16-year-old male patient with a chronic radial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) resulting from radial arterial access obtained shortly after birth. The patient subsequently developed a pulsatile mass at the insertion site, which was monitored without intervention given lack of symptoms. With time, the mass gradually enlarged, and intervention was pursued due to increased risk for trauma and/or hemorrhage due to participation in contact sports. Ultrasonography and angiography confirmed the presence of an AVF originating from the right proper radial artery. A multidisciplinary team, including radiology, interventional radiology, and plastic surgery, performed imaging characterization and open surgical ligation of the AVF with no postoperative complications.