Exsanguination from arteriovenous fistula: anything is possible!

Excerpt

It is no secret that authors derive great pleasure from the fact that their articles are creating interest and being commented on. We have read letters by Handlos et al. [1] and by Kutschera et al. [2] referring to our published paper [3]. Handlos et al. previously wrote a paper presenting a case of a sudden death due to an ulcerated arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in a patient with chronic renal failure [4]. Kutschera et al. described another case in which the cause of death was exsanguination, and the manner of death was accidental and iatrogenic, i.e. a therapeutic complication after a failed attempt to establish vascular access for dialysis [2]. Handlos et al. have raised several issues concerning our paper, suggesting that our case may not have been a suicide. …