Arteriovenous fistula

Arteriovenous fistula is an anomalous connection between the arterial and the venous system.

Pathogenesis
Arterioveonous fistula causes a certain amount of blood to bypass the capillary network and “short circuit” arterial blood to the veins (venous return). This leads to a decrease in peripheral resistance in the involved arterial bed, an overflow of the venous network and a decrease in blood supply provided by an artery peripheral to the fistula. In the acute setting, the formation of a large A-V fistula may cause shock or death as a result of fatal haemorrhage into the venous network, for example in case of rare abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture into the inferior vena cava.

In most cases, in order to compensate for this condition, there is an increase in cardiac output, vasoconstriction in areas beyond the fistula and an increase in circulating blood volume. This results in dilation or even in formation of aneurysm on the inflow artery central to the fistula (large difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure) as well as dilation of the involved venous network. Such compensation may last for several months or years and short shunting of normal blood flow gradually increases.

Symptomatology
General symptoms are related to the above-described pathogenetic mechanism.

Local symptoms: When the inflow artery proximal to the fistula is compressed, the murmur and the thrill disappear and generally there is a decrease in the increased pulse rate → Nicoladoni-Brabhamsign.
 * dilation of outflow veins and peripheral venous congestion with swelling, alternatively accompanied with trophic changes;
 * dilation of the inflow artery;
 * impalpable pulse peripheral to the fistula;
 * insufficient blood supply or even ischemic changes;
 * continuous sistolic-diastolic murmur;
 * palpable continuous thrill.

General symptoms:
 * tachycardia;
 * shortness of breath;
 * angina-related problems;
 * enlargement of all heart sections;
 * enlarged pulmonary vascular markings manifested on an X-ray image;
 * ↓VC of lungs;
 * ECG changes.

Presence and a degree of all symptoms depends on the size, character and length of the circuit.

Congenital arteriovenous fistulae
These fistulae arise as a consequence of a failure of differentiation of embryonic vascular network into arteries and veins.

The numerous communications between the two systems persist or they are separated by thin septa, which may later be perforated. Congenital fistulae differ in their character, since failure may arise at any stage of differentiation and may be of various degrees.

Direct (truncal) fistuale
These rare fistulae occur predominantly on extremities, i.e., aa. a vv. femorales, brachiales femoral arteries and veins, brachial arteries and veins) and they are associated with direct communication between arteries and veins of medium transparency.

Symptomatology
Small isolated fistulae may be accidentally detected during an angiographic examination and they generally do not cause any symptoms to the patient.

Larger or multiple fistulae cause dilation of veins and they even lead to vericose veins at an early age. Especially suspicious are vericose veins which are particularly large, unilateral and have an atypical location. Skin tends to be warmer and there tends to be hyperhidrosis and hypertrichosis. When a fistula is located in proximity to ephiphyseal cartilages and it is is hemodynamically relevant before growth is completed, one of its manifestations tends to be gigantism of the affected extremity. General cardiovascular symptoms, such as murmur and thrill, are usually not present.

Diagnosis is made on the basis of anamnesis, symptoms enumerated above and angiography.

Therapy
This disease tends not to progress significantly for many years.

Indications for surgical treatment include local failure stemming from decompensation of the venous system, gigantism and exceptionally also general symptoms. The actual surgical intervention consists in dissection of the corresponding arterial and venous section and ligation of the fistula at the influx into the veins. Vericose veins are removed during the second phase of phlebectomy. Hiperhydrosis may be removed by performing lumbar sympathectomy or upper thoraic sympathectomy.

Localised fistulae (fistulae of tumorous origin)
Except for intracranial location, this form of fistula is rare and it is characterized by forming the terminal part of the network. Inflow arteries lead into cavernous sinuses, which are drained by an outflow vein.

Symptomatology
These fistulas are most commonly located in soft cranial coverage and in knuckle-bones. They manifest as limited glomerulus of spiral and pulsating arteries, which gradually increases in size and invades adjacent areas. They generally appear at a young age.

Diagnosing localised fistulae of tumorous origin is not problematic. The typical presentation is appearance and palpation of coiled and bunging arteries as well as presence of continuous thrill and murmur.

Therapy
It is recommended to perform surgical removal of fistulae of tumorous origin as soon as possible after diagnosis. These fistulae tend to increase in size over time and they may “pull in“ other arterial endings into the circuit of the fistula.

In case of smaller fistualae, surgical intervention consists in ligation of the inflow artery, extirpation of the whole fistula and ligation of all outflow veins. Puncture of soft tissus can be generally closed by means of stiches or skin relocation.

Large fistulae tend to be supplied by multiple veins, which need to be examined by means of an angiographic examination. The surgical procedure should be divided into two phases. In the first phase, inflow arteries are embolised and ligated. During the second phase of the surgical procedure, the actual extirpation is performed. In order to correct resulting defects, reconstructive plastic surgeries are necessary.

Generalised multiple fistulae
These are the most frequent type of congenital fistulae. They are characterised by connections between arteries and veins, which are formed by extensive cavernous structures. They affect mainly whole extremities or their parts. Their manifestation falls under the so-called F.P. Weber syndrome.

Symptomatology
The symptoms start to manifest in early chilhood. The affected part of the extremity is warmer and varicose veins, hyperhidrosis and gigantism are present.

The disease progresses fast. Over the course of several years, further tissues are infiltrated by cavernomatous structures, including bones, in which cavernomatous structures create honeycomb structure. The growth of cavernomes may lead to destruction of whole muscular groups and due to pressure, it may cause excrutiating and medicine-resistnant pain. Vein obstruction progresses, swelling, trophic changes and peripheral ischemy are present. Peripheral ischemy may sometimes result in gangreene. Short-circuited amount of blood increases, which leads to presentation of characteristic symptomes.

Angiography can show dilated inflow artery, fast filling of dilated deep veins and clouds of higher opacity in soft tissues, which represent the actual fistulae.

Therapy
Surgical intervention is indicated for patients with cardiac insufficiency (heart failure) and more serious local complications, such as ulceration, ischemic necrosis or pain. Surgery is also recommended for patients with a severely progressing disease. Currently, surgical treatment is still palliative and if successful, it may stabilise the disease and slow down its progress. Extensive cavernomatous sinuses, which invade subcutaneous space, muscules and bones, cannot be surgically removed.

The most commonly used surgical procedure is the so-called skeletonization with partial extirpation of those cavernomes which cause the most severe symptoms. It consists in ligation of peripheral branches of arterial section, which supply the fistulae. After surgery, the remaining fistulae attract collaterals even from remote areas. Later, local and general symptoms reappear and ischemia may progress to gangrene. Together with progessing cardiac insufficiency, this may lead amputatation of extensive parts of the affected area.

Acquired arteriovenous fistulae
They result almost exclusively from simultaneous injury of an artery and an adjacent vein.They are typically found in aa. a vv. femorales, popliteales, brachiales a a. carotis comm. with v. jugularis int. Due to an increase in the use of invasive radiological procedures carried out to perform catheterization and endovascular procedures, the incidence of small iatrogenic fistulae is increasing. Occasionally, they may also arise as a result of war injuries due to bullets and shrapnels, fractures involving bone fragments, perforation of arterial aneurysm into an adjacent vein and disruption of the wall of a vein by an inflammatory process. They are intentionally created during intervention in haemodialysis patients.

Morphological types of fistulae:
 * 1)  direct fistulae – immediate connection between an artery and a vein (iatrogenous);
 * 2)  indirect fistulae –  a connection is mediated by an indirect aneurysm, riginally by a pulsating haematoma (traumatic).

Symptomatology
Local and general symptoms are identical to the symptoms cuased by congenital fistualae and their intensity is proportionate to the size and length of time of existence of the fistula. Diagnosis is determined on the basis of anamnesis, signs of venous congestion and peripheral insufficient blood supply, continuous murmur and thrill which is typical mainly of traumatic fistulae.

Therapy
Every AV fistula should be removed as soon as possible. Postponed surgical removal might be complicated by development of serious alterations especially in the inflow artery, i.e. dilation or even formation of aneurysms, sclerosis of the artery wall. Surgical removal consists in removal of the fistula and reconstruction of the artery and the vein. Ligation can be performed only in case of an artery of lower extremity or an ulnar artery. Early surgical interventions have very good and permanent results.

Related Articles

 * Arteriovenous malformation
 * Arterial injury
 * Blood capillaries, function, direction