[Femoral arteriovenous fistula: a late uncommon complication of central venous catheterization]

G Ital Nefrol. 2007 Jan-Feb;24(1):56-9.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

A 77-year-old woman was admitted due to AV graft thrombosis; given the technical impossibility of performing other native AV fistulas, we chose to insert a tunnelled central venous catheter. Considering the vascular history of the patient, the central venous catheter could not be placed into the internal jugular vein; it was therefore put into the left femoral vein. Following a 3-month-period of the catheter working properly, the patient was hospitalized due to sudden acute pain in the left thigh. In a few days the patient developed an important haematoma with serious anemization in the left lower limb. Ultrasonography showed the presence of a fistula between the left common femoral artery and the femoral vein, leading to the subsequent successful positioning of a stent into the common femoral artery through right trans-femoral access. Angiography examination showed the femoral vein patency along the proximal stretch with respect to the function of the tunnelled venous catheter.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arteriovenous Fistula / etiology*
  • Catheterization, Central Venous / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Femoral Artery*
  • Femoral Vein*
  • Humans