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

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