Traumatic arteriovenous fistulas. A follow-up study.

Over the period 1958 to 1972 14 patients with traumatic arteriovenous fistulas were treated. The mean period from trauma to surgical closure of the fistula was 13.3 years. No form of reconstructive vascular surgery had been performed initially. The dominating symptom of arteriovenous fistula was a pulsating tumor with a marked thrill. Excision of the fistula and reconstruction of the artery and vein was performed in 11 patients. In 3 patients the fistula was first ligated resulting in early recurrence of the shunt. At follow-up 3-15 years postoperatively all fistulas were closed, but 5 patients had moderate symptoms.