Congenital Arteriovenous Fistulae of the Extremities

Congenital arteriovenous fistulae of the extremity are not rare and continue to challenge the experienced vascular surgeon. Although about 200 cases of arteriovenous fistulae have been reported to date in the American literature, we believe this lesion to be much more common.¹⁻⁵Coursely, in reviewing the experience at the Mayo Clinic, reported the largest number of arteriovenous fistulae involving the extremities observed by 1 institution.¹He reported 69 cases seen in 20 years. One-half of these patients had their initial treatment elsewhere. In 1958, Cross added a report of 8 cases all treated by operation.² More than one-half of the reported cases of congenital arteriovenous fistula involve the extremities. Approximately one-third occur in the upper extremity, but the majority in the lower extremity. The experience of one surgeon or a group of surgeons with this disease is usually small. The reported results of the treatment of multiple