IATROGENIC ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULAS OF THE VERTEBRAL ARTERY AFTER JUGULAR VENOUS PUNCTURE - SURGICAL THERAPY AND LONG-TERM RESULTS

Direct puncture of the vertebral artery for angiography has been aband oned since the introduction of angiography catheters. Nowadays punctur e of jugular veins for intravenous nutrition or monitoring is the pred ominant cause of accidental arteriovenous vertebral artery fistulas. W e describe the history of four patients with such fistulas and the lon g-term results after surgical repair.