ANEURYSM OF THE ILIAC ARTERY WITH ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULA - COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING

An 80-year-old man was admitted to hospital because of severe congestive left heart failure. Clinical examination demonstrated a loud continuous bruit over the abdomen. Ultrasound revealed a great partly thrombosed aneurysm of the common right iliac artery, color flow mapping showed a fistula with a continuous turbulent flow from the aneurysm into the corresponding vein. The turbulent flow was registered even in the inferior vena cava. The pronounced shunt was responsible for left heart failure. The patient underwent an operation with ligation of the fistula and aortoiliac bypass using a woven Y-graft. Color Doppler flow seems to be a very useful noninvasive method for demonstrating a fistula between the iliac artery and vein.