Vertebral Arteriovenous Fistula Following Insertion of A Central Monitoring Catheter

Summary

We report the case of a vertebral arteriovenous fistula caused by jugular vein catheterisation. The only physical sign was a systolodiastolic murmur with thrill. The non-invasive examinations of the neck vessels were normal and the diagnosis was made by angiography. Arteriovenous fistulas caused by vascular puncture are rare. Most of them have occured after direct puncture of the vertebral artery for angiography. We have found only 2 reports (describing 3 cases) of vertebral arteriovenous fistulas arising after insertion of a central monitoring catheter. As for arteriovenous fistulas in other areas, early closure is advocated to prevent poten tially serious morphological and hemodynamic alterations.