Endoluminal stent grafts for the treatment of arteriovenous fistulas and arterial perforations.

Purpose: To evaluate the use of polycarbonate-polyurethane (Corethane) sten ted grafts for the treatment of arteriovenous fistulas and arterial perfora tions. Materials and Methods: 4 patients at the age of 34 to 81 underwent p ercutaneous insertion of corethane endoluminal grafts. Two patients had an arterial fistula - one iliaco-iliac, one brachio-brachial. Two patients und erwent treatment to seal arterial perforations that occurred in the externa l iliac artery in one and in a femoral venous bypass in another. Results: I n ali cases the communication or leakage was seated by the endograft in pla ce but had to be combined with a detachable balloon in om case. In three pa tients, a longer follow-up became available, one patient died three weeks a fter treatment from unrelated causes. While two stent grafts remained open for 15 and 24 months, one patient experienced stent graft occlusion three m onths after treatment. Conclusions: Corethane stent grafts are helpful to s eal short-neck arteriovenous fistulas and arterial perforations even under emergency conditions.