Scalp Arteriovenous Fistula Following Hair Transplantation

Excerpt

Arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) were first described by Hunter in 1757. The outdated term of cirsoid aneurysm was applied to vascular malformations of the scalp in 1833 by Brecht. An AVF is a fistulous connection between the arterial feeding vessels of the scalp and the draining veins, bypassing an intervening capillary bed [6]. Although AVF may be congenital, they are more often acquired due to injury of neighboring vessels [2, 8], including iatrogenic microtraumatisms such as hair transplantation. Among the various existing procedures for baldness, punch autograft technique is one of the preferred for its simplicity, effectiveness, and safety. AVF of the scalp is a very rare complication among all procedures of hair restoration done each year in the world, since about 40 years. Suspected clinical diagnosis was easily made but further vascular investigations, especially computed tomography angiography (CTA), were helpful for diagnosis confirmation of this rare pathology and to plan the treatment. …