We have seen cases of arteriovenous fistula occurring in the lower extremity following Fogarty catheter thrombectomy. Neither patient required immediate operation for limb salvage, nor has one been necessary subsequently. The first patient was observed for over two years and the second patient for four months. No deleterious effects of nonoperative management were noted. In the second patient, intraoperative diagnosis was made by arteriography which is, to our knowledge, the first such case to be reported.