Iatrogenic arteriovenous fistulas make up only 0.22% of all fistulas. This article reports a postoperative arteriovenous fistula in a female patient who initially presented with a vestibular schwannoma and was operated using the retrosigmoid approach. Undesired clinical symptoms developed after the patient had been discharged home, and included pulsatile tinnitus, which intensified when the patent tilted or turned her head. The diagnosis was established based on cerebral angiography findings during the second hospital stay. This case report describes complications of retrosigmoid craniotomy, clinical manifestations of the arteriovenous fistula and successful fistula embolization.