Primary arteriovenous fistulas of the abdomen. Their occurrence secondary to aneurysmal disease of the aorta and iliac arteries
D. W. Duppler, W. E. Herbert, R. C. Dillihunt and F. S. Ray
We present three cases of arteriovenous fistula secondary to aneurysmal
disease. The first patient, a 75-year-old man, presented with abdominal
pain, a large pulsatile mass, and renal failure. He underwent repair of his
aortocaval fistula; his renal failure resolved and the remainder of his
course was uneventful. The second patient, a 77-year-old man, presented
with a several-day history of nausea, lower abdominal pain, and a pulsatile
mass. He underwent repair of his aortocaval fistula but died on the 21st
postoperative day of progressive pulmonary failure. The third patient, a
76-year-old man, presented with an episode of syncope and subsequent rapid
development of left lower extremity edema. He was subsequently found to
have a right iliac artery to left iliac vein fistula, which was repaired.
He did well postoperatively with gradual resolution of his lower extremity
edema.
