Posttraumatic arteriovenous fistula and subclavian vein thrombosis: treatment by percutaneous arterial embolization and vein angioplasty.

A 71-year-old woman had edema and venous dilatation of her upper right limb that caused painful functional disability following a shoulder injury. Arteriograms demonstrated an arteriovenous fistula between the subclavian artery and vein associated with thrombosis of the vein at the same level. The arteriovenous fistula was found to have multiple arteriovenous communications. Because of associated distal venous thrombosis, venous drainage was retrograde through the brachial vein. The inflow arteries of the fistula were embolized and then the subclavian vein thrombosis was recanalized, dilated, and an endoluminal stent inserted. Clinical signs completely resolved.