[Internal iliac arteriovenous fistulas following gynecologic surgery. Development of principles of treatment. Apropos of 2 cases].

Pelvic arterio-venous fistulae are rare. They can be congenital or acquired. If the latter they are nearly always iatrogenic following surgery for prolapsed intervertebral discs or following gynaecological or obstetrical surgery. Diagnosis is difficult because the symptoms and signs are not specific ore are deceptive. Clinical examination shows that this "tumour" is vascular in nature. Up till recently treatment was disappointing, consisting as it did of surgery which was often difficult and dangerous and possibly carrying a poor prognosis, and in most cases resulting in recurrences. Since intra-arterial embolisation techniques have been developed, either by themselves or before surgery, the results have been better. They cannot be carried out without a preliminary precise and complete arteriographic assessment.