[Iatrogenic arteriovenous fistulas of the vertebral artery after venipuncture of the neck. Vascular surgery treatment and long-term outcome].

Direct puncture of the vertebral artery for angiography has been abandoned since the introduction of angiography catheters. Nowadays puncture of jugular veins for intravenous nutrition or monitoring is the predominant cause of accidental arteriovenous vertebral artery fistulas. We describe the history of four patients with such fistulas and the long-term results after surgical repair.