An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is an abnormal connection between an artery (blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood to the body) and a vein (blood vessels that carry oxygen-depleted blood to the heart).AVFs can be congenital but most often they are acquired and their cause is often unknown.Treatment for AVFs depends on their location and severity but include surgery, minimally invasive procedures, and radiosurgery.