Delayed High Output Heart Failure due to Arteriovenous Fistula Complicated with Herniated Disc Surgery

Abstract

A 36-year-old male presented with progressive exertional dyspnea over months. Physical examination showed jugular venous distension, lung crecipitations, femoral bruit, and pitting pedal edema. Echocardiogram showed a dilated right ventricle with severe pulmonary hypertension and a non collapsing inferior vena cava (IVC). On right heart catheterization, IVC oxygen saturation was noted at 92% suggesting arterial mixing; a computed tomography of the abdomen showed a fistula between the right common iliac artery to the right common iliac vein at L4 level and a massive IVC; this was linked to trauma from a disectomy done 16 years ago at L4-L5 level. Endovascular sealing with a 16x60 mm bifurcated stent graft (S&G Biotech, Seoul, Korea) was performed which led to complete resolution of the patient's dyspnea. Iatrogenic vascular injury during lumbar disc surgery, although rare, can lead to high output cardiac failure developing over months to years.