Percutaneous embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas

Abstract

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal communication between an artery and a vein, causing clinical manifestations, such as chronic hypoxemia and embolic events. Arteriovenous malformations were treated surgically, with a significant rate of complications. In the 1970 ́s, the first percutaneous catheter embolization was performed with coils. We describe three cases in which percutaneous embolization techniques were effective to prevent embolic, hemorrhagic, and hypoxemic events in the follow-up of patients.