Complications of endovascular procedures at the target site

As endovascular techniques are performed more frequently, the number of interventionalists increases, and the array of endovascular techniques continues to expand, we will increasingly encounter complications from these procedures. Some of these complications are simply a function of the access: arteriovenous fistula (AVF), bleeding, and pseudoaneurysm. Others are specific to the type of procedure being performed on the target vessel: renal artery dissection and stent migration from iliac veins. Furthermore, with each new device so unexpected and occasionally unique, complications are identified and treatment strategies gradually refined: aortic stent graft migration, failure in inferior vena cava (IVC) filter retrieval, embolization protection device occlusion, and femoral artery infection with closure devices. Consequently, the interventionalist must be aware of these complications and salvage options. In this chapter we describe some of the more commonly encountered complications and discuss their management.