Sudden cardiac arrest immediately after stent graft deployment during treatment of iliac aneurysm with iliocaval fistula

Abstract

An 84-year-old woman with heaviness of the right lower extremity had an iliocaval fistula related to a right internal iliac aneurysm. Immediately after deployment of an endovascular device, cardiac arrest occurred because of severely decreased sympathetic activity. After surgery, the patient recovered well and has been followed up with exclusion of the arteriovenous fistula and resolution of the type II endoleak. Endovascular treatment for large arteriovenous fistulas induces rapid closure of the fistula together with restoration of blood supply to the lower extremity. Markedly deactivated sympathetic nerve traffic could result in a critical hemodynamic status in association with endograft deployment.