Vision-Threatening Arteriovenous Fistula in the Upper Extremity

Abstract

Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs), which have low complication rates and can stay open for a long time, are preferentially used for hemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis frequently cause complications such as bleeding, thrombosis, ischemia of extremities, infection, edema, venous hypertension and venous aneurysm. These complications have negative effects on the quality of life and survival. In this report, a dialysis patient having severe edema in the left eye and arm for one year due to thrombosis in the AVF and experiencing a fast regression of edema after closure of the AVF will be presented. The present case emphasizes that thrombosis in the fistula, a frequent complication of AVF in patients with ESRD, can present with rare symptoms like periorbital edema which prevents unilateral vision in addition to its well-known symptoms.