Coil embolization of a symptomatic left internal mammary arteriovenous fistula

Abstract

Internal mammary artery (IMA) arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) are exceedingly rare. There have been a few case reports documenting incidences of IMA AVFs arising from traumatic, iatrogenic, and congenital causes. Recommendations for management of IMA AVFs vary from open surgical ligation-excision to transcatheter embolization to observation. We present an unusual case of a patient who presented with ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure symptoms due to a left IMA AVF that formed after open heart surgery. The patient ultimately underwent percutaneous embolization of the fistulous connection.

Pseudoaneurysm associated with arteriovenous fistula involving a superficial breast arteriole after vacuum-assisted removal of a benign mass

“…[ 6 ] Lee et al successfully performed percutaneous coiling under angiography to occlude a superficial small PA-AVF of the breast. [ 2 ] Hadzimehmedagic et al used catheterization and coiling to embolize a 40-mm PA-AVF of the deep femoral artery and vein. [ 7 ] However, the coil became displace and conventional surgery was finally performed.…”

“…The published literature only identified 1 case of PA-AVF of a superficial breast arteriole that was occluded with percutaneous coiling under angiography. [ 2 ] We determined that treatment options for breast PA-AVF involve 3 factors, that is, the interval between initial injury and detection, lesion size, and the distance between the AVF and associated PA. We describe a case of large PA-AVF following VAR of breast fibroadenomas that was treated with surgical excision and ligation. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient.…”