The right internal jugular vein (IJV) is widely used as an initial site of central catheter insertion and a temporary route for hemodialysis catheter placement. The IJV is favored over the subclavian vein due to its easier accessibility and lower incidence of pneumothorax and stenosis.2)3) However, several fatal complications have also been reported.2) Unexpected injury of the carotid artery is a procedural complication that may lead to airway obstruction secondary to hematoma formation or the development of a carotid-jugular fistula. We recently treated a patient with a developed an iatrogenic fistula between common carotid artery (CCA) and IJV using a self-expandable graft stent. Together with a review of the relevant literature, we will discuss the feasibility of this technique for the treatment of this rare complication.

A 47-year-old woman with stage IV chronic kidney disease was admitted to our hospital for the management of dyspnea, anuria and systemic edema. Despite intensive medical treatment, the patient's symptoms did not improve, and emergent hemodialysis was necessary. Using ultrasound guidance, we attempted to place a perm catheter in the right IVJ. Although the blood flow was poor and the right IJV was not visible, we navigated the perm catheter into the right jugular vein. Because the catheter did not function, we changed the insertion site of the perm catheter to the right femoral vein. A sudden hematoma immediately developed on the patient's neck after the removal of the perm catheter from the right jugular vein. The neck hematoma did not further increase after manual compression of the puncture site. However, the patient went into respiratory arrest one day later as a result of upper airway obstruction due to the mass effect of the hematoma. After an emergency tracheostomy with evacuation of the hematoma and right percutaneous pleural drainage, the patient's vital signs stabilized. A computed tomography (CT) neck angiography showed a right carotid artery-jugular fistula (Fig. 1). We treated the patient with an endovascular graft stent rather than open neck surgery because of the risk to the patient from general anesthesia during surgery. A right carotid artery angiography confirmed a fistula between CCA and IJV. To avoid unexpected occlusion of the right subclavian artery, a self-expandable Viabahn graft stent (W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) was deployed above the origin of the right subclavian artery with the aid of the road map image. The final control angiography showed complete occlusion of the fistula without requiring balloon angioplasty as well as patency of the right subclavian artery (Fig. 1).

The IJV is a reliable and effective route to secure immediate temporary access for the initiation of hemodialysis. Arteriovenous fistulas occur in 0.58% of all temporary hemodialysis patients and may lead to congestive heart failure, systemic embolization, and infection.6) Prompt surgical treatment should be considered to avoid the development of these complications. Surgical options for carotid-jugular fistulas include ligation of the fistula and arterial repair. However, these surgical treatments incur a mortality rate of 0% to 22% and a rate of postoperative progression of neurologic deficits of 0% to 21%.3)8)9)10)11)12)14)

Studies have reported that endovascular carotid repair has a significantly lower mortality rate than open surgical options.5) Endovascular methods have demonstrated efficacy in treating many complications from traumatic arterial damage.1)7)13) Graft stenting may make it possible to occlude the branches originating from the artery covered by the stent. Because the common carotid artery has no significant branch proximal to the carotid bifurcation, graft stenting can be used to treat common carotid artery injuries or carotid jugular fistulas.

A balloon-mounted graft stent has complications that include distal migration of the graft stent and endoleaks.4)15) In our case, the fistula was proximal to the carotid bifurcation; therefore, self-expendable graft stenting was more favorable than balloon-mounted graft stenting. In this case, complete occlusion of the fistula and patency of the right subclavian artery was observed. Deploying a self-expandable graft stent to cover the fistula site may be a feasible treatment option for common carotid-jugular fistulas.

Our case demonstrates that self-expandable graft stents can be used to treat iatrogenic fistula between CCA and IJV. In this case, complete occlusion of the fistula as well as patency of the right subclavian artery was achieved. Deployment of self-expandable graft stent to cover the fistula site may be a feasible treatment option for CCA-IJV fistulas.