Iatrogenic arteriovenous fistula following endovenous laser therapy of the short saphenous vein.

Short saphenous vein incompetence is present in up to 20% of patients with varicose veins. Studies looking at the success and complication rates associated with endovenous laser ablation of the short saphenous vein included only a small number of patients. The authors report the case of a 51-year-old woman presenting with a painful right leg edema. She had a history of previous endovenous laser ablation of the right and left great saphenous veins and right short saphenous vein. Duplex scan was performed and showed an arteriovenous fistula between branches of the popliteal artery and vein. Surgical ligation of the fistula was performed. At 8-month follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic.