AV fistulae can be easily diagnosed with color Doppler ultrasound. According to Kurtz, et al, focal hemodynamic changes can be detected within about 1-2 cm of the actual communication and can be very striking. The site of AV fistulae often has a high velocity blood flow and this may result in turbulence and focal perivascular tissue vibration, resulting in an array of colors in the perivascular soft tissues. Spectral analysis of the artery supplying the fistula [as in this case] may show decreased resistance manifested as higher diastolic flow velocities and persistent forward flow throughout the cardiac cycle. This pandiastolic antegrade flow contrasts with the normally absent or reversed diastolic flow that occurs in most peripheral arteries. The communicating vein may also show a turbulent flow with an arterialized venous pattern.

According to a few reports, AV fistulae with small shunt volume may spontaneously close. But in most cases surgical repair, endovascular repair via the placement of stents and coils and percutaneous ultrasound guided procedures such as compression therapy [for small AV fistulae] are some of the modes of treatment for the patients with AV fistulae. Once the fistula is repaired, monitoring by ultrasound can be easily carried out. Thus with the increasing incidence of post femoral artery catheterization fistulae, careful monitoring by non invasive modalities must be considered for early diagnosis and intervention.