PROXIMAL BLEEDING CONTROL OBTAINED BY A BALLOON CATHETER IN THE SURGICAL REPAIR OF A LEFT SUPRACLAVICULAR TRAUMATIC ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA

Endovascular procedures offer various methods for the treatment of pos ttraumatic arteriovenous fistulas. We report the treatment of a posttr aumatic arteriovenous fistula between the left subclavian artery and i nternal jugular vein combined with a large subclavian false aneurysm. To avoid left thoracotomy we attained control of arterial bleeding by means of a transfemorally introduced balloon catheter advanced into th e left subclavian artery. We found that the combination of endovascula r procedures with classical surgery can reduce the risks in the treatm ent of arteriovenous fistulas.