Endovascular Treatment Of Post-Traumatic Popliteal Arteriovenous Fistula And False Aneurysm. A Case Report

Introduction. Post-traumatic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) involving the popliteal vessels is a pathology with a poor incidence being open surgery its treatment of choice. Nowadays however the total occlusion of the fistula can also be achieved by means of the implantation of a covered stent-graft, which implies an important reduction of both surgical time and hospital stay. Case report. A 29-year old man who had a stab wound in the right popliteal fossa two years earlier was admitted with a popliteal AVF involving the middle popliteal segment along with a false aneurysm. After echo-Doppler examination and arteriography the patient was assessed for endovascular treatment that consisted in the implantation of a covered stent- graft thus achieving the occlusion of both the fistula and the false aneurysm. The procedure lasted 60 minutes, blood transfusion was not required and the patient was discharged on the 5th postoperative day. 90 days after operation an echo-Doppler examination was performed that showed patency of both artery and vein, absence of fistula and thrombosis of the false aneurysm. Conclusion. Endovascular techniques are an alternative to open surgery in the treatment of post-traumatic AVF involving large or middle size vessels.