arterial-venous Coupler device

Indications

• treatment of resistant hypertension

Adverse effects

• leg edema
• commentators worry about high-output heart failure

Clinical significance

• decreases 24-hour ambulatory systolic BP by 13 mm Hg
• may reduce hospitalizations for hypertensive crisis

Procedure

• catheter placement of device about the size of a paper clip into the upper thigh, where it creates an AV anastomosis between the externial iliac vein & external iliac artery

Mechanism of action

• mechanically lowers blood pressure

More general terms

• arteriovenous (AV) shunt
• implant