Autologous vein-covered stent for the endovascular management of an iliac artery-ureteral fistula: Case report and review of the literature

Iliac artery-ureteral fistula is a rare entity that is being reported with increasing frequency. Patients with lilac artery-ureteral fistulas can be divided into two distinct groups on the basis of the factors that predispose them to having these fistulas. In group 1 the fistula is associated with degenerative lilac artery disease or previous arterial reconstructive surgery. Patients in group II have undergone some combination of the following procedures: pelvic extirpative surgery for malignancy, urinary diversion, radiation therapy, and ureteral stenting. The diagnosis of an lilac artery-ureteral fistula can be elusive even with the use of multiple imaging methods. Direct operative repair is technically demanding and is associated with high mortality rates. In recent years, treatment has shifted toward percutaneous embolization of the lilac artery and extraanatomic lower extremity vascular reconstruction for group II patients. In this report, the 24 group II patients with lilac artery-ureteral fistulas who previously have been described are reviewed, and a new endovascular treatment for this entity that uses a stented vein graft is detailed.