Treatment of external carotid arteriovenous fistula with detachable balloon.

A simple fistula between the external carotid artery and the internal jugular vein was treated for the first time using Debrun's technique with a detachable balloon catheter. The nature of the fistulous connection makes the release of the balloon inflated with silicone completely harmless. The occlusion of the fistula, while maintaining the patency of the remaining branches of the external carotid artery, proves this technique to be the most appropriate for the treatment of arteriovenous fistulae in the neck.