[Arteriovenous fistula of the renal pedicle after nephrectomy (author's transl)].

Two cases of arteriovenous fistula of the renal pedicle after nephrectomy are described, and the general features of this type of lesion reviewed in relation to the findings in these 2 cases and 52 other patients reported in the published literature. The following points are emphasized : the importance of local signs for revealing the presence of a fistula; the long period during which no signs of cardiac complications appear; the high-output cardiac failure which finally occurs is unaffected by medical treatment but responds remarkably well to surgical cure of the fistula. Hemodynamic tests were conducted in one case. The treatment of choice is resection of the aneurysmal sac with suture of the vessels, but less complex procedures, ligature of the artery and vein or the artery alone, may be sufficient.