Direct arteriovenous fistula of the external carotid artery: treatment with detachable balloon.

Direct arteriovenous fistulas originating from the terminal branches of the external carotid artery constitute a rare form of facial vascular disorders. They are usually well tolerated and do not grow. Surgical removal or ligation of the fistula may be hazardous to the facial nerve or lead to aesthetic insult. Based on our experience in five cases treated successfully with detachable balloons, we propose this technique as an alternative to surgery.