Case report
Arteriovenous fistula as a complication of transradial coronary angiography: a case report
1 Prairie Vascular Research Network; Department of Cardiology, University of Saskatchewan, 2574 Linner Way, Regina, SK S4V 1K3, Canada
2 Prairie Vascular Research Network; University of Saskatchewan, Regina, SK, Canada
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2013, 7:21 doi:10.1186/1752-1947-7-21
Published: 14 January 2013Abstract
Introduction
Iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula is a vascular condition that may result from coronary angiography. Many case reports have described arteriovenous fistula occurrence after coronary angiography using the transfemoral access route, but rarely as a complication of using the transradial approach. We report a rare case of a patient with arteriovenous fistula following transradial artery coronary angiography.
Case presentation
A 62-year-old Caucasian man underwent emergent coronary angiography using the right radial artery approach. One month after angiography, he discovered a turbulent sound near the access site. A right radial arteriovenous fistula was found upon duplex ultrasound investigation. The patient was treated conservatively. At 1-year follow-up, the arteriovenous fistula was unchanged and the patient remained hemodynamically stable and asymptomatic.
Conclusion
Iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula is a rare vascular complication of transradial artery coronary angiography. The natural history of arteriovenous fistula is benign and is thought to resolve spontaneously; therefore, a conservative approach, as opposed to surgical ligation, is recommended as the first-line treatment.
