A case of spontaneous arteriovenous fistula — clinical , plethysmographic , and radiological findings

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) in the lower limbs are rare disease entities usually caused by penetrating injuries, sporadically developing spontaneously. We present the case of a 74-year-old man suffering from a peripheral arterial disease, in whom a fistula between the popliteal vein and the deep femoral artery branches was disclosed during angiography. The patient denied any trauma in the past. Neither percutaneous transluminal angioplasty nor surgical treatment caused improvement in the perfusion of the limb, and femoral amputation was performed. We discuss in detail the results of accessory investigations-ultrasonography, plethysmography, and angiography.