Affiliations: Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Munich-Grosshadern Campus, Munich, Germany | Department of Internal Medicine II, University of Munich-Grosshadern Campus, Munich, Germany | Department of Surgery, University of Munich-Grosshadern Campus, Munich, Germany | Nephrology Department, Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. Dirk-André Clevert, Department of Clinical Radiology, University of Munich – Grosshadern Campus, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany. Tel.: +49 89 7095 3620; Fax: +49 89 7095 8832; E-mail: dirk.clevert@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Abstract: We describe the case of a 66-year-old woman with an aortic valve reconstruction. Subsequently she presented with an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) between the left common carotid artery and internal jugular vein following several attempts of jugular catheter insertion. Due to aliasing, correct visualization of the fistula track was hindered by conventional color Doppler. However, by using the B-flow imaging technique, the fistula track could be detected without aliasing or overwriting. Duplex examination revealed an AVF between both vessels with an arterialized waveform in the left jugular vein and a high-velocity turbulent flow inside the fistula. Due to these findings we will change our routine scanning protocol for extracranial vessels and will use B-flow in indistinctive or difficult conditions to obtain additional informations.
Keywords: Arteriovenous fistula, common carotid artery, internal jugular vein, B-flow
