This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ethanol embolization in treating traumatic arteriovenous fistulas (TAVFs).
From March 2012 to April 2020, 42 consecutive patients (29.9 ± 15.1 years, range: 3–68 years) with peripheral TAVFs underwent ethanol embolization. All patients underwent clinical and imaging follow-ups (40.0 ± 25.9 months, range: 3–90 months). The mean time to onset of symptoms after trauma was 5.4 ± 5.9 months (range: 0.5–30 months). Among the patients, 27 (64.3%) reported that the TAVFs occurred after blunt trauma, 10 (23.8%) presented after penetrating trauma (with 4 patients involving penetration by infusion indwelling needles), and 3 (7.1%) had a history of surgery. Treatment effects, devascularization rates, and complications were evaluated at follow-ups conducted at 1–3 month intervals.
Seventy-one embolization procedures were performed, with a mean of 1.6 ± 0.7 procedures per patient. Thirty-four patients received coil-assisted ethanol embolization. Absolute ethanol was used in all procedures, with an average volume of 7.1 ± 4.2 ml per procedure (range: 1–18 ml); 28 patients (28/42, 66.7%) received coil embolization in 36 procedures (36/71, 50.7%). Upon re-examination, 39 patients (92.9%) achieved 100% devascularization; of these, 29 patients (74.4%) with Schobinger stage II TAVFs improved to stage I or became asymptomatic. Overall, 30 cases (66.7%) achieved a complete response, while the other 12 cases (33.3%) showed a partial response. In addition, no major complications were observed postoperatively, apart from minor complications.
Coil-assisted ethanol embolization can effectively manage TAVFs with an acceptable risk of mild complications.