Intermittent claudication secondary to a traumatic arteriovenous fistula

Abstract

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) formation is a recognized complication of arterial trauma. A 63-year-old man with no known risk factors for atheroma and a history of a 20-year delay in the diagnosis and treatment of a traumatic AVF presented with right calf claudication (maximal walking distance = 150 m). A duplex ultrasound scan and a magnetic resonance angiography showed an aneurysmatic dilatation and partial thrombosis of the infrarenal aorta and the right leg feeding arteries. Selective angiography revealed a complete occlusion of the right popliteal artery in the segment 2 and the infrapopliteal arteries with good collateral formation in the lower leg. At this time, there is no indication for infragenual arterial revascularisation in this patient. Instead, therapy consists of exercise training and antiplatelet therapy. We concluded, that peripheral microembolism from the aneurysmatic aorta, iliac or femoral arteries is most probably the reason for the popliteal occlusion in this patient, representing a rare, nonatherosclerotic cause of claudication.