Selective non-operative management of pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulae complicating femoral artery catheterization.

Femoral arterial pseudoaneurysms or arteriovenous fistulae may sometimes complicate percutaneous femoral artery catheterization procedures. Most surgeons recommend prompt operative repair because of the unfavorable natural history of pseudoaneurysms or arteriovenous fistulae secondary to violent or accidental arterial trauma. However, the natural history of catheterization-induced pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulae has not been well documented. Accordingly, we prospectively studied the natural history of 22 pseudoaneurysms, 8 arteriovenous fistulae, and 3 combined lesions, identified by duplex scan in 32 patients following trans-femoral cardiac, peripheral vascular, or vascular access arterial catheterization procedures. Angiographic procedures were performed with the use of 5-8F introducer sheaths. A femoral artery complication was significantly more likely to result from coronary balloon angioplasty (9/304; 3.0%) than from diagnostic cardiac catheterization (21/2476; 0.8%) (p less than 0.003; chi square). Fourteen patients (13 pseudoaneurysms, 1 combined pseudoaneurysm/fistulae) underwent surgical repair. Pain and/or enlarging hematoma resulted in repair within two days of the diagnosis in 8 patients. The need for chronic anticoagulation prompted elective repair in 2 patients. A pseudoaneurysm was repaired in one patient five days following catheterization when it became painful. In three stable patients, asymptomatic pseudoaneurysms were repaired electively during another surgical procedure. There were no operative deaths. One patients (7%) developed a wound infection postoperatively. Eighteen patients (19 arterial lesions: 9 pseudoaneurysms, 8 arteriovenous fistulae, 2 combined pseudoaneurysms/arteriovenous fistulae) with improving symptoms and stable physical signs were followed by serial clinical evaluation and duplex scans. Seventeen of 19 (89%) of these lesions resolved spontaneously within 5-90 days (mean 30.7 days).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Iatrogenic femoral artery aneurysms in orthopaedic practice

BACKGROUND: Iatrogenic injury to the femoral vessel is a rare complication after fracture of hip. Pseudoaneurysm formation of superficial femoral artery or profunda femoris artery is detected quite late. We present our experience for surgical management of pseudoaneurysm of femoral artery after iatrogenic trauma during management of fracture of femur. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out for eight patients with femoral artery pseudoaneurysm treated surgically during the last 10 years in one surgical unit. RESULTS: Of eight patients with pseudoaneurysm of femoral artery, six had superficial femoral artery aneurysm and two profunda femoris artery aneurysm. Mean duration for presentation was 4 months (range 2-6 months). Methods of surgical intervention were direct closure of arterial defect after aneurysmectomy in six cases and use of saphenous vein patch graft for repair of artery in two cases. Mean size of aneurysm was 12 x 7 cm (range 8 x 4 cm to 20 x 12 cm). All patients were doing well during a mean follow up of 72 months (range 6-110 months). CONCLUSION: Large pseudoaneurysms of femoral arteries after iatrogenic injury during management of fractures of femur should be managed by aneurysmectomy and arterial repair with or without saphenous vein patch graft.     

Profunda femoral artery pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous transluminal procedures manifested by neuropathy.

The incidence of arterial complications following femoral artery cannulation is low; however, with the increasing number of cardiac diagnostic and interventional procedures, vascular surgeons are being confronted with an increasing number of pseudoaneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas. Swelling and a painful pulsating groin masse are the most frequent presenting symptoms of a common femoral artery false aneurysm. We present the cases of 4 patients who had the unusual finding of a profunda femoral artery pseudoaneurysm after they had undergone cardiac catheterization or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The only clinical sign of these patients was femoral neuropathy or neuropalsy caused by femoral nerve compression. Surgical repair of the pseudoaneurysm was successful in all patients. We discuss the reasons for this unusual finding and rare location for a pseudoaneurysm.     

医源性股动脉假性动脉瘤的治疗方法

目的 评估超声引导下局部压迫和手术治疗医源性股动脉假性动脉瘤的疗效并介绍治疗经验.方法 1995年4月至2008年4月对197例医源性股动脉假性动脉瘤病人进行治疗,其中171例首选超声引导下局部压迫治疗(假性动脉瘤稳定者),26例(假性动脉瘤破裂或瘤腔直径≥40 mm者)直接手术治疗.结果 压迫治疗的171例中137例压迫成功,有效率80%,34例失败者改行手术治疗.直接手术治疗的26例及上述改行手术的34例中,47例行股动脉假性动脉瘤切除、动脉壁破口修补术,6例行自体大隐静脉补片成形术,7例行人工血管转流术.围手术期所有手术病例无出血、神经痛、淋巴瘘、动静脉瘘等严重并发症和死亡.随访1个月至5年,均未见假性动脉瘤复发或肢体缺血症状.随访期间无死亡.结论 局部压迫疗法治疗医源性股动脉假性动脉瘤安全、有效、经济,可作为大部分稳定病人的首选治疗方法.不适合压迫治疗者及压迫治疗失败的病人可手术治疗,疗效确切.     

Femoral artery pseudoaneurysm by intraaortic balloon pumping

Femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is one of multiple vascular complications with intra aortic balloon pumping (IABP). In a series of 815 cases, the incidence of pseudoaneurysm formation was 0.61 percent. Six patients with this complication who underwent successful surgical repair were reviewed. Three cases in our series were obviously due to the unsuitable technique of balloon removal. Especially a patient who underwent IABP insertion after exposure of the femoral artery should undergo open removal of the balloon with reconstruction of the femoral artery. In conclusion, femoral artery pseudoaneurysms are expected to diminish by the appropriate technique of balloon removal.     

Obliteration of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm by thrombin injection

BACKGROUND: Femoral artery pseudyoaneurysms are a common complication after femoral access for transcatheter procedures, frequently requiring operative repair. We review the safety and efficacy of a novel nonsurgical method of pseudoaneurysm treatment METHODS: From June 1998 to November 2001, a total of 47 femoral artery pseudoaneurysms in 46 patients were treated by bedside ultrasound-guided injection of dilute topical thrombin. All pseudoaneurysms occurred after femoral access for transcatheter procedures, and were diagnosed clinically and confirmed with ultrasound imaging. Clinical follow-up was performed and included ultrasound (2 hours to 1 month) in 64.4% of patients, including any patient with a symptomatic or clinical change. RESULTS: Pseudoaneurysms ranged in size from 1.5 to 4.5 cm. Of 47 pseudoaneurysms, 45 were successfully obliterated on the initial injection. After successful obliteration of pseudoaneurysm, 1 patient sustained thrombosis of the tibioperoneal trunk that required surgical embolectomy, yielding a complication rate of 2%. Four pseudoaneurysms recurred after initially successful obliteration. In 1 of these cases, the patient was taken directly to surgery, and 3 were successfully treated with repeat injection, for an overall success rate of 93.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Obliteration of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm by injection is safe and effective, and may be associated with decreased morbidity. Recurrent pseudoaneurysms may be safely reinjected, with a high success rate.     

The femoral neuralgia syndrome after arterial catheter trauma

The increasing number of diagnostic angiograms and interventional vascular procedures has resulted in a heightened awareness of serious catheter-related vascular trauma. We reviewed 50 consecutive catheter injuries of the femoral artery that required surgical intervention and focused specifically on their long-term outcome. The most common traumatic lesion was femoral pseudoaneurysm (60%) followed by uncontrolled hemorrhage (23%) and arterial thrombosis (17%). The most frequent chronic complaint of these patients was the femoral neuralgia syndrome affecting 15 of 50 patients (30%). Typically, these patients complained of postcatheterization pain in the groin, which radiated down the anteromedial thigh (anterior femoral cutaneous nerves), and was associated with residual hyperesthesias. The neuralgia gradually improved in 6 weeks to 1 year in most patients. Chronic pain, however, necessitated multiple visits to a pain clinic or physical therapy unit in four patients (27%) and resulted in unemployment in three (20%). We conclude that current catheter-related arterial injuries are commonly associated with a chronic femoral cutaneous neuralgia syndrome that has not been emphasized previously.     

Postarteriographic femoral pseudoaneurysms: Treatment with ultrasound-guided compression

Pseudoaneurysms following femoral arterial catheterization are increasingly common and are related to factors such as catheter size, periprocedural anticoagulation, hypertension, and improper technique. Ultrasound-guided compression as a noninvasive technique for repair of these lesions was prospectively evaluated in 16 patients whose mean age was 61 years. Nine patients were on anticoagulants and six had hypertension. All patients presented with an enlarging groin hematoma, a pulsatile mass, and/or a bruit following femoral catheterization. Seventeen femoral artery pseudoaneurysms, including one with an associated arteriovenous fistula, were detected using color-flow Doppler imaging. Three pseudoaneurysms thrombosed spontaneously. The remaining 14 were managed with compressive therapy lasting from 20 to 100 minutes. No complications were encountered during the compressions and 10 false aneurysms (71%) responded completely (mean time to thrombosis of 38 minutes). Two lesions responded partially to compression and there were two failures, the latter associated with excessive anticoagulation in one patient and a well-established pseudoaneurysm in the second patient. Only one pseudoaneurysm (6%) in the series required surgical correction. Ultrasound-guided compression of acute pseudoaneurysms in the groin is a safe, inexpensive, and effective method of treatment.We thank Brenda Scott, Tammy Kovacs, Lisa Ungar, and Alison Grzywnowicz in the ultrasound department at Victoria Hospital for the time and enthusiasm they devoted to this project.     

Treatment of arterial pseudoaneurysms with percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection

Background: The pseudoaneurysms or false aneurysms are one of the most common complications after arterial invasive manipulation. Different methods of treatment have been described, such as surgical repair, ultrasound-guided compression and endovascular procedures. Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection has shown efficacy, safety and low cost, and, in some cases, the procedure is considered the treatment of choice. Preliminary results are presented. Methods: Design: Case series. We studied adult patients with iatrogenic arterial pseudoaneurysms demonstrated clinically and corroborated with ultrasound. We describe the technique used for the management of the arterial pseudoaneurysms by ultrasound-guided thrombin application, as well as complications and follow-up. Results: Twelve patients were included with a mean age of 63 years (SD 12.4), 33% were male and 67% female. Associated comorbid states were hypertension 83%, 50% diabetes, obesity 66%. All pseudoaneurysms were located in the femoral artery (2:1 right/left ratio). The mean size of the pseudoaneurysm was 48.2 mm SD 11.9, (range of 30 to 65 mm) by 44.3 mm SD 9.3, (range 20 to 53 mm). The average neck diameter was 2.2 mm SD 0.54 (range of 1.5 to 3 mm). Eleven cases were unilobulated (87.5%), and one bilobulated (12.5%). All reported arterial integrity with complete occlusion after one thrombin application without recurrence and morbidity after 90 days of follow up. Conclusions: In our study we obtained a 100% of thrombosis without pseudoaneurysm recurrence or complications. However a longer follow-up time and more number of cases are required to confirm these results.     

Iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm: Studies relating to the current treatment strategies including observation,ultrasound-guided compression,and duplex-directed thrombin injection

These articles demonstrate 3 “conservative” management strategies for postcatheterization femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. The continuum of watchful waiting in selected patients to ultrasound-guided compression, to ultrasound-guided thrombin injection mirrors many of the changes in the surgical treatment of myriad disease states. Operative repair of these lesions, such as open cholecystectomy, is not going to be of historical importance because many of these lesions will still require open repair. However, with the ever-increasing use of catheter-based therapies, minimally invasive techniques that demonstrate similar efficacy and safety are needed.The most frequent complication of femoral artery catheterization is the development of a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm. Approximately 500,000 interventional cardiologic procedures are performed in the United States every year. This does not take into account the interventional radiologic and other (femoral arterial line placement) procedures used to gain access to the central arterial system via the femoral artery. The reported incidence of complications after femoral artery catheterization ranges from 0.2%–9%. Pseudoaneurysm formation has been reported as a complication in 0.05%–5% of all femoral artery catheterizations.Obviously, with the large number of procedures being performed each year, femoral artery pseudoaneurysm formation is not an uncommon lesion referred to general and vascular surgeons.The first article reviewed explores the conservative management of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. This article is important in that it documents the benign natural history of a large number of these lesions. Although the conservatively managed patients were a relatively select group, they were not so select that the findings of the study become uninterpretable. This study demonstrates that many of these lesions can in fact be observed with frequent spontaneous resolution.The second article discusses another “conservative” management strategy for the treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms, involving ultrasound-guided compression of the lesion. Ultrasound-guided compression has been adopted in many centers and has shown very good results. Success rates of 70%–100% have been reported. Unfortunately, a recurrence rate of 20% is still seen, especially in patients undergoing anticoagulant therapy. Also, a large number of patients fail this therapeutic method secondary to intolerance of the pain associated with compression. Still, it is clear that ultrasound-guided compression is a highly effective choice in many patients.The third article addresses duplex-directed thrombin injection, a novel technique that is being employed in certain centers. This technique appears to be quite effective and safe. Although this study included only 11 patients, this paper is one of a series of papers that have documented the efficacy and safety of the technique. Duplex-directed thrombin injection is also very expeditious with thrombosis, occurring in only 30 seconds in most patients.Surgical repair of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms will always be necessary for a number of these lesions. However, many can be observed with spontaneous thrombosis. Other techniques have been and are being designed to treat this common condition. With the economic pressure for decreased in-patient treatment, the conservative strategies that have been reviewed will continue to occupy a central role in the management of these lesions.     

Ipsilateral femoral vein compression: a contraindication to thrombin injection of femoral pseudoaneurysms

Development of a femoral artery pseudoaneurysm occurs in 0.6% to 3.2% of interventional procedures. Nonsurgical treatment has consisted of ultrasound scan-directed compression and, more recently, direct thrombin injection into the pseudoaneurysm cavity to achieve thrombosis. Reported complications after thrombin injection are rare. We report two cases of femoral venous compression associated with pseudoaneurysm injection and review the literature. A 76-year-old man and an 86-year-old man both underwent thrombin injection of pseudoaneurysms compressing the ipsilateral common femoral vein. Both patients were diagnosed with deep venous thrombosis and subsequently needed surgical exploration for repair of the pseudoaneurysm and release of the venous compression. At exploration, both were found to have significant inflammation surrounding the femoral vessels, which made vessel exposure challenging. Because of the venous outflow obstruction involved in femoral pseudoaneurysms with secondary venous compression and the surgical difficulty caused by surrounding inflammation, avoidance of thrombin injection in favor of early surgical intervention is suggested.     

��Ʒע���¸��ɹ���Ѫ�����˵���ϼ�����

??Diagnosis and management of vascular injury in the groin area secondary to intravenous drug abuse WANG Jin-song, QIAN Xue-ke. Department of Vascular Surgery??the First Affiliated Hospital??Sun Yat-sen University??Guangzhou 510080??China
Corresponding author??WANG Jin-song, E-mail??wangjs@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Abstract Cases with groin pseudoaneurysms caused by drug abuse are increasing year by year. The diagnosis and management are special. Typical clinical manifestations include purulence??hemorrhage and a tender mass in groin area. Some cases present acutely with aneurysm bleeding and hypovolemic shock as late symptoms. Color Doppler ultrasound (CDU)??computer tomography angiography (CTA)??magnetic resonance angiography??MRA ??are helpful to confirm the diagnosis. The management options include excision of pseudoaneurysms and debridement either without arterial reconstruction (femoral artery ligation only)??or with selective arterial revascularization (femoral artery repair??femoral artery end to end anastomosis??or graft or prosthesis bypass). Successful radiological intervention therapy has been reported to treat femoral artery pseudoaneurysm by drug abuse. The option of arterial reconstruction is a challenge to the operator. In the long term??arterial reconstruction wouldn’t influence the overall surgical complication incidence.     

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms: a prospective analysis

An adverse consequence of the use of the femoral artery for the endovascular evaluation and treatment of arterial disease is the increased incidence of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms. Although surgical repair has traditionally been used to treat such aneurysms, less invasive modalities have emerged. The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms. A treatment protocol was approved and 30 stable patients (21 female; age range 43-85 years; mean 67 years) were prospectively enrolled from December 1997 through June 1999 to undergo UGTI on 30 iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms. Pseudoaneurysms occurred after cardiac intervention (n = 22, 73%), peripheral intervention (n = 7, 23%), and after a femoral line placement (n = 1, 3%). They ranged in size from one to 5 cm with a time interval from intervention until UGTI of one to 132 days (median 3 days). Eleven patients (37%) were systematically anticoagulated at the time of UGTI. All pseudoaneurysms were treated using sterile technique and local anesthesia with ultrasound-guided injection via a 20-gauge spinal needle of 0.1 to 2 cm3 (median 0.6 cm3) of 1000 units/cm3 topical thrombin solution administered by one of six physicians. A period of bedrest for 4 to 6 hours after injection was followed by repeat groin duplex scan at 24 hours and a clinical follow-up at 30 days. There were no procedural deaths or nonvascular complications. Twenty-seven (90%) UGTIs resulted in successful pseudoaneurysm ablation with no recurrences at 24 hours or 30 days. Two (7%) UGTIs failed and one (3%) femoral artery embolic complication occurred; all were successfully treated with surgery. Success appeared to be independent of anticoagulation status, pseudoaneurysm age, size, or operator experience. We conclude that UGTI is a safe, easy, well-tolerated and effective noninvasive method for treatment of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms and should be considered in all stable patients before operative repair.     

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection for femoral artery pseudoaneurysms

We reviewed 13 cases of ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of femoral pseudoaneurysms. All cases occurred within a 17-month period from January 1998 through May 1999 and were complications of femoral artery puncture. Immediate total thrombosis occurred in nine of 13 patients. Twenty-four-hour follow-up ultrasound in seven patients revealed no recurrence of pseudoaneurysm. Two of 13 patients required operative repair. One pseudoaneurysm thrombosed with 15 minutes of compression after injection and one case required a second injection. No cases of arterial thrombosis were noted. Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection for femoral artery pseudoaneurysm represents a safe and effective alternative to operative repair.     

Surgical treatment of acquired left ventricular pseudoaneurysms

BACKGROUND: We present a review of our experience with acquired pseudoaneurysms of the left ventricle in order to establish the risk of surgical repair. METHODS: Ten patients operated upon for a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm in our clinic between 1984 and 1999 were reviewed. The pseudoaneurysm, a complication of myocardial infarction (four acute and three chronic) or previous cardiac surgery (three chronic), was resected in all patients and the ventricular wall defect closed with direct sutures (five cases) or a patch (five cases). Coronary artery bypass graft was performed in 6 patients. RESULTS: Three patients died (postoperative mortality 30%) after repair of an acute postinfarction (2 patients) or a chronic postsurgical (1 patient) pseudoaneurysm. Three patients died during follow-up (median 4 years) of a carcinological (2 patients) or cardiac (1 patient) cause. Two years after repair, 5 patients were in New York Heart Association class I or II, and 1 patient was in class III. CONCLUSIONS: Repair of left ventricular pseudoaneurysms can be performed with acceptable results, although mortality is significant in acute myocardial infarction and redo operations. Propensity for fatal rupture, however, is higher than the surgical risk in acute pseudoaneurysms or in large or expanding chronic ones and warrants surgical repair. The best approach to small asymptomatic chronic pseudoaneurysm is unsettled.     

Endovascular exclusion of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm with the Wallgraft-Endoprosthesis

Development of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm represents a continuing problem after percutaneous peripheral interventional procedures as well as coronary angioplasty. We report a case of symptomatic, expanding femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in a 60-year-old man who underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and stenting for acute myocardial infarction. A self-expanding Wallgraft Endoprosthesis (Boston Scientific, USA) was delivered under fluoroscopic guidance via contralateral percutaneous femoral approach to the site, resulting in immediate complete exclusion of the pseudoaneurysms. Follow-up color duplex scanning confirmed false aneurysm exclusion 1 year postprocedure. Endovascular treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm appears to be an attractive alternative to surgical repair in critically ill patients, with a high degree of technical success, low morbidity and short hospital stay.     

Spontaneous thrombosis of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms: documentation with color Doppler and two-dimensional ultrasonography

Two-dimensional ultrasonography and color Doppler were used over an 18-month period for the diagnosis and management of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms in six patients with pulsatile groin masses found after catheterization. A diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm was made when color Doppler demonstrated pulsatile systolic flow into echolucent masses. One patient underwent surgical repair of a symptomatic pseudoaneurysm after the initial Doppler study. Serial color Doppler studies were performed in five subjects, all of whom showed resolution of flow after a mean of 18 days (range 7 to 42). Despite an absence of flow, one patient underwent surgical drainage of persistent hematoma. After a mean interval of 233 days (range 84 to 552) all patients have remained free of other complications or symptoms related to the pseudoaneurysm. This experience suggests that urgent surgical repair is not required in all cases of small iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms, and that asymptomatic patients can be safely followed with serial color Doppler examinations.     

US-guided percutaneous management of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms by thrombin injection: personal experience and review of the literature

Treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms includes US-guided compression, endovascular coil embolisation or stenting, thrombin injection and open surgical repair. Thrombin injection is currently the standard approach to all non-complicated pseudoaneurysms of the peripheral arteries. Between January 2001 and December 2004, 59 pseudoaneurysms of the femoral artery were submitted to percutaneous US-guided thrombin injection in our surgery division. Complicated pseudoaneurysms, patients in whom percutaneous treatment failed, and chronic pseudoaneurysms with large necks were excluded from this kind of treatment and underwent surgical repair. Eighteen patients were on therapeutic anticoagulation (30.5%) and none of the pseudoaneurysms had an associated arteriovenous fistula. All patients were submitted to clinical and ultrasound follow-up at 24 hours and at 1, 6 and 12 months, and thereafter at yearly intervals for evaluation of recurrences. The thrombin injection was successful in 57/59 patients (96.6%) while two patients (3.4%) were submitted to surgical treatment after failure of the procedure. In 1 patient (1.7%) an additional injection was necessary to achieve complete thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm. No complications occurred; none of the patients reported discomfort and there was no request for sedation. No recurrences were seen at follow-up. Nowadays US-guided percutaneous thrombin injection is the treatment of choice for femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. Surgical treatment is reserved to rare selected cases. More studies are necessary to evaluate further indications for treatment of visceral or small distal artery pseudoaneurysms.     

Combined endovascular and surgical repair of a large traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the thigh-a case report

Thigh pseudoaneurysms are rare compared to pseudoaneurysms of the groin, and usually result from direct injury to an arterial branch. Direct open repair can be associated with a large volume blood loss. The authors describe a combined endovascular and surgical approach to a large, traumatic, pseudoaneurysm of the thigh. The patient was a 49-year-old man with a history of left femur fracture treated by open reduction and internal fixation, who presented with a painfully swollen left thigh. Duplex ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) scan suggested a large (7.7 x 5.0 x 6.3 cm) pseudoaneurysm that appeared to be associated with a branch of the deep femoral artery. In the operating room, angiography was used to identify and selectively access the feeding artery. This artery was then successfully coil embolized, allowing surgical decompression of the thigh with minimal effort and blood loss. Endovascular and surgical therapy were complementary in successfully treating a large traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the thigh.     

Subclavian arterial injury associated with blunt trauma.

Blunt subclavian artery trauma is an uncommon but challenging surgical problem. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the management of blunt subclavian artery injuries treated by the Trauma and Vascular Surgery Services at the East Tennessee State University-affiliated hospitals between 1992 and 1998. Six patients with seven blunt subclavian artery injuries were identified. Physical signs indicating blunt subclavian artery injury were pain or contusion around the shoulder joint; fractures of the clavicle, scapula, or ribs; periclavicular hematomas; and ipsilateral pulse or neurologic deficits. Seven subclavian artery injuries were treated-two arterial transections, two pseudoaneurysms, and three intimal dissections. Associated injuries included four clavicle fractures, one humerus fracture, one combined rib and scapular fractures, and two pneumothoraxes. Vascular surgical treatment included three primary arterial repairs, two saphenous vein interposition grafts, and one polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft. One patient was treated nonoperatively with anticoagulation. No deaths occurred. Morbidity occurred in two patients with chronic upper extremity neuropathy producing prolonged disability from pain and weakness; one patient had reflex sympathetic dystrophy, and the other had a brachial plexus injury. In conclusion, blunt subclavian artery trauma can be successfully managed with early use of arteriography and prompt surgical correction by a variety of vascular techniques. Vascular morbidity is usually low, but long-term disability because of chronic neuropathy may result from associated brachial plexus nerve injury despite a successful arterial repair.