Primary Arteriovenous Fistulas of the Abdomen

Abstract

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.