Experimental arteriovenous fistula. Creation and percutaneous catherter obstruction with cyanoacrylate.

Arteriovenous fistula models were created of plastic and in dogs, allowing exploration of the intraarterial use of tissue adhesive, isobutyl cyanoacrylate. A delivery system utilizing superselective coaxial catheterization was developed on the model. Carotid artery to external jugular vein shunts constructed in 19 dogs provided a suitable in vivo model. Using varied injection techniques, the shunts were occluded in 17 of 17 treated animals. Three dogs subsequently died because of embolization to the lungs and one carotid artery was occluded. Techniques to avoid these complications were devised. Refinement of the intraarterial use of these adhesives will offer us another mode of treatment of vascular abnormalities.