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.     

Surgical therapy of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm after angiography

Seventy patients requiring surgical treatment for femoral artery pseudoaneurysm after angiographic procedures have been presented. The 10 year study period encompassed 38,822 catheter procedures (31,951 cardiology procedures and 6,871 radiology procedures) performed through the femoral artery. Presenting complaints included pain (51 percent) and neuropathy (19 percent). Additional morbidity has been discussed. The present study differs from previous ones in that many of the patients had femoral artery pseudoaneurysm formation in the common femoral artery without a history of smoking, diabetes, or hypertension. There was no demonstrable association with anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy. The incidence of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm did increase with the use of a catheter sheath from 0.06 to 0.3 percent (p less than 0.005). This has not been reported previously. Direct arterial repair was utilized in 63 patients, whereas arterial reconstruction was required in 7 patients (saphenous vein graft in 4 and prosthetic graft in 3). There was one wound complication but no mortality associated with the surgical repair. Acceptable reasons for repair of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms are persisting or enlarging femoral artery pseudoaneurysms, associated pain or neuropathy, and rupture of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms.     

Pseudoaneurysm of medial branch of the profunda femoris artery following dynamic hip screw fixation of proximal femoral fracture: a case report

Development of pseudoaneurysm is due to either initial injury or is a complication of internal fixation of the femoral fracture [1]. This is a rare, serious but preventable complication following proximal femoral fracture [7]. We present an unusual case of pseudoaneurysm of medial branch of profunda femoris artery 2 months following osteosynthesis of proximal femoral fracture. The pseudoaneurysm was treated by endovascular embolisation.     

注射吸毒所致感染性假性股动脉瘤的股动脉结扎治疗

目的总结股动脉结扎治疗注射吸毒所致感染性假性股动脉瘤的体会。方法对45例注射吸毒所致感染性假性股动脉瘤患者资料进行回顾性分析。采用股动脉或髂外动脉结扎+瘤体切除术治疗感染性假性股动脉瘤,术后预防血栓形成及抗感染治疗,并随访患肢功能。结果44例患者保肢成功,近期患肢行走功能良好。1例术后因深静脉血栓形成,出现肢体坏死而截肢。结论34例(75.6%)获3～12个随访,疗效满意。股动脉结扎是治疗感染性假性股动脉瘤的有效方法。     

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.     

Management of femoral artery pseudoaneurysm due to addictive drug injection

Objective: To study surgical management for patients with femoral pseudoaneurysm resulting from addictive drug injection. Methods： Clinical data of 34 patients with femoral pseudoaneurysm resulting from addictive drug injection were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Thirteen patients underwent bypass graft ( end to side) of external iliac artery and superficial femoral artery using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). Three patients who had an autogenous saphenous vein graftin situs, one of whom was then performed an ePTFE graft when rupture and bleeding occurred at the anastomotic site. Color Doppler image showed patent grafted blood vessels in all the patients after operation. Eighteen patients had their femoral arteries ligated. Limbs of all the 34 patients were saved. Conclusions： Ligating femoral artery is an effective way to treat femoral artery pseudoaneurysm if autogenous saphenous vein graft or artificial vessel graft is not applicable.     

Pseudoaneurysm of the aortic arch after aortosubclavian bypass treated with endoluminal stent grafting--a case report

This paper describes a case of aortic arch pseudoaneurysm treated with stent graft 2 years after aortosubclavian bypass repair of a subclavian artery aneurysm. An 84-year-old man presented with back pain. Two years before, he had had a left subclavian artery aneurysm repaired with aortosubclavian bypass. Upon examination by computed tomography (CT) scan and angiography he was found to have a bovine arch configuration, a 7-centimeter pseudoaneurysm arising from the stump f the native subclavian artery, a patent aortosubclavian bypass, and a left hemothorax. A 37 mm by 10 mm Gore Excluder thoracic graft was introduced into the right femoral artery cutdown and deployed across the arch, excluding the pseudoaneurysm and preserving the brachiocephalic vessels. Follow up CT scan at 1 year shows exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm. The patient continues to do well 1 year after implantation without evidence of endoleak. In the presence of unusual anatomical characteristics, endoluminal stent graft repair can be successfully performed across the aortic arch.     

Percutaneous suture technique with ProGlide to manage vascular access pseudoaneurysm after percutaneous coronary intervention procedure: A case report

Iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a common complication of the endovascular procedures.Manual compression and thrombin injection are the conventional techniques to occlude the pseudoaneurysms.However,there are still some failed cases that applied these treatment options.The aim of the study is to seek a potential and alternative method with ProGlide system to close the pseudoaneurysm.During April 2018 to February 2019,2 patients with iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm of the superficial femoral were treated with the suture-base closure device–ProGlide.After punctured the pseudoaneurysm and placed a 6-F sheath,the guide wire was placed in the right femoral artery via the access of the pseudoaneurysm neck.Then the pseudoaneurysm neck was sutured by ProGlide to occlude the blood supply to the pseudoaneurysm.These 2 patients were cured with no complications and complaints,which revealed that percutaneous suture technique with ProGlide at the neck level of pseudoaneurysm provides a novel method for the management of vascular access pseudoaneurysm,especially in those with a wide and short neck.     

Schwannoma of thigh mimicking pseudoaneurysm of the profunda femoral artery

Femoral and popliteal artery aneurysms constitute the majority of peripheral arterial aneurysms. However, aneurysm of the profunda femoral artery is highly uncommon, being mainly of traumatic and mycotic origin. Diagnosis is usually straightforward with clinical and radiological examination, and such aneurysms are only rarely misdiagnosed as tumors. We herein report a case of preoperatively diagnosed pseudoaneurysm of the profunda femoral artery that was intraoperatively found to be a soft tissue tumor and finally revealed to be a schwannoma, by pathology. Our case's unusual presentation considerably confounded both diagnosis and management, thus providing a salutary clinical lesson.     

Peripheral vascular complications of coronary angioplasty

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is being employed with increasing frequency for the treatment of coronary artery disease. PTCA involves the use of a larger sheath and catheter assembly than does cardiac catheterization, potentially increasing the risk of injury to the peripheral vessels used for access. Over an 18-month period, 295 angioplasty procedures resulted in six major vascular injuries (2%). The peripheral vascular complications that were recognized early included thrombosis of the common or superficial femoral artery in two patients and laceration of the iliac artery in two additional cases. Late complications included one superficial femoral artery aneurysm and one common iliac vein thrombosis. All patients required emergency operation at the time of recognition of their vascular complication, and five of six required multiple operative procedures. At operation, all but one patient had severe peripheral arterial disease. There was one death, three amputations, and multiple major complications. Although persistent dysrhythmias were common, major cardiac complications were unusual. These patients had prolonged hospital stays and high hospital costs. Although the incidence of arterial complications with PTCA is low, the consequences are potentially disastrous when they occur. Greater attention to basic evaluation for arterial disease is strongly recommended before elective PTCA, and informed consent about possible extremity complications is mandatory. These untoward results, with their prolonged stays and high costs, must be considered when evaluating the results of "nonoperative" treatment of coronary artery disease.     

Repair of a Recurrent Pseudoaneurysm of the Ascending Aorta in an Atomic Bomb Survivor with Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Abstract   The occurrence of infective aortic pseudoaneurysms tends to be intractable and difficult to treat. We experienced a very rare case of a recurrent infective pseudoaneurysm in the ascending aorta that occurred after cardiac surgery in an atomic bomb survivor with myelodysplastic syndrome. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully repaired using a femoral artery autograft with an omentopexy and the patient recovered well without any recurrence.     

Iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm surgically repaired with combined bovine pericardial roll and autologous great saphenous vein grafts

Iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm caused by invasive procedures is one of the common complications for endovascular interventions.We present a case of a young male with a complex iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm as a result of iatrogenic femoral artery puncture.The defective femoral artery was repaired with combined bovine pericardial tube and autologous great saphenous vein grafts.Computed tomography angiography showed the grafts were still patent one year after the surgery.     

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.     

Femoral nerve palsy secondary to traumatic pseudoaneurysm and iliacus hematoma

The authors report a case of traumatic femoral nerve palsy caused by a pseudoaneurysm of the iliolumbar artery and a iliacus muscle hematoma. This case report details not only the classic history and physical findings seen in patients such as this one, but also illustrates an unusual source of the hematoma and a discussion of its treatment. A 20-year-old man was assaulted and presented to the authors's institution with a 1-week history of severe pain in the left anterior thigh and groin, weakness in the left quadriceps muscle, and numbness in the anterior thigh and medial distal leg. Imaging studies demonstrated a large, 9.4 x 6.4 x 5.2-cm iliacus hematoma as well as a pseudoaneurysm originating from the left iliolumbar artery. The patient underwent angiographic embolization of the pseudoaneurysm followed by surgical evacuation of the hematoma. The embolization was performed before surgery to prevent any possible rebleeding from the pseudoaneurysm during evacuation of the hematoma. Femoral nerve palsy caused by traumatic iliacus hematoma is an infrequent diagnosis often missed because of its insidious presentation. In this case, embolization of the iliolumbar artery pseudoaneurysm followed by surgical evacuation of the hematoma resulted in a nearly full recovery of the femoral nerve as of the last follow-up examination.     

Melioidosis presenting as an infected intrathoracic subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm treated with femoral vein interposition graft

We present the first case of in situ replacement of an infected subclavian artery using superficial femoral vein and the fourth reported case of an infected arterial pseudoaneurysm caused by pseudomonas pseudomallei. Sepsis and hoarseness developed in a 58-year-old man after recent travel to Borneo, Indonesia. Indirect laryngoscopy revealed a paralyzed right vocal cord. Computed tomography and arteriography revealed a 6.5-cm pseudoaneurysm of the proximal right subclavian artery. Blood cultures grew pseudomonas pseudomallei. An abnormal cardiac stress test prompted a coronary angiography, which revealed severe coronary artery disease.The patient underwent coronary artery bypass and in situ replacement of the infected subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm with a superficial femoral vein, along with placement of a pectoralis major muscle flap to cover the vein graft. Operative cultures of the pseudoaneurysm grew pseudomonas pseudomallei. The patient was treated with a 6-week course of intravenous ceftazidime and oral doxycycline and then continued on oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. One week after discontinuing intravenous antibiotics, the patient presented to the emergency department with a rapidly expanding, pulsatile mass in the right supraclavicular space. He was taken emergently to the operating room. After hypothermic circulatory arrest was accomplished, the disrupted vein graft and aneurysm cavity were resected and the subclavian artery was oversewn proximally and distally. Parenteral ceftazidime was continued for 3 months and oral amoxicillin-clavulanate (augmentin) was continued indefinitely. There was no evidence of infection clinically or by computed tomographic scan 2 years later. Although autogenous vein replacement of infected arteries and grafts may be successful in the majority of cases, this strategy should probably be avoided when particularly virulent bacteria such as the organism in this case are present.     

Femoral Pseudoaneurysm in Drug Addicts—Excision without Revascularization is a Viable Option

PURPOSE: To present a series of patients presenting with femoral pseudoaneurysm. RESULTS: Seventeen patients who presented with a femoral pseudoaneurysm during a 1 year period were included in this study. Parenteral drug abuse was the most common aetiological factor. The femoral artery was most commonly involved at its bifurcation. Sixteen patients (94%) had excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessel and debridement without any revascularization and one patient (6%) had reverse saphenous grafting after excision and ligation of vessels. Four amputations (23%) were performed. Three (17%) were major limb amputations, which included one above knee and two below knee amputations. Four patients (23%) developed intermittent claudication. CONCLUSION: Excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessels and wide debridement without immediate revascularization in infected pseudoaneurysms is a safe and effective treatment.     

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.     

假性股动脉瘤的外科治疗

目的总结假性股动脉瘤的外科治疗方法。方法回顾性分析我科2002年5月~2006年6月收治的23例假性股动脉瘤患者,其中注射毒品引起14例,外伤性6例,医源性3例。1例拒绝手术,22例假性动脉瘤被切除,其中8例行股动脉修补,10例行人工血管搭桥,3例行股动脉结扎,1例下肢缺血坏死,股动脉缺损无法修补或搭桥,行高位截肢术。结果拒绝手术的1例出院1周后死亡,其余均痊愈出院。3例失访,19例获随访,平均1.7(1~3)年,3例股动脉结扎者患肢皮温正常,1例人工血管旁路手术者术后3年复查DSA示人工血管闭塞但侧支循环良好,不影响患肢功能,其余患者效果良好。结论假性股动脉瘤一经发现须早期手术治疗,破裂、感染会严重影响治疗效果甚至危及生命。假性动脉瘤切除、自体血管重建或人工血管搭桥是首选治疗方法。对病程较长、瘤体较大、压迫症状明显者可行高位股动脉结扎。     

Treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery injuries with ultrasound-guided compression.

Iatrogenic injuries of the groin are becoming more common after increasingly sophisticated vascular intervention. These injuries are accurately detected by duplex and color Doppler ultrasonography. Recent treatment of these lesions by ultrasound-guided compression repair (UGCR) has been described. During a 1-year period we identified 18 femoral artery injuries, including 17 pseudoaneurysms and one arteriovenous fistula. Three of the pseudoaneurysms thrombosed spontaneously before attempted treatment. The remaining 15 lesions underwent a trial of UGCR. Successful closure was accomplished in 10 patients (56%). Seven of these lesions were successfully treated during the initial session, and thrombosis was accomplished after repeat compression in three additional lesions. Three patients who were given anticoagulants had a failed UGCR, but their pseudoaneurysms thrombosed after administration of anticoagulants was discontinued. Two patients had failed UGCR and required operation. Seven (88%) of eight patients who were not given anticoagulants were successfully treated. In contrast only two (29%) of seven patients given therapeutic doses of anticoagulant medication were successfully treated by the technique. There was no statistical difference between mean pseudoaneurysm diameter, mean width and length of pseudoaneurysm neck, or depth of pseudoaneurysm neck from skin surface in patients in whom successful initial closure was achieved when compared with those patients in whom the initial attempt failed. UGCR is a safe, simple, noninvasive technique that can be used to treat many femoral artery injuries that traditionally were treated with surgery. The technique can be applied by any laboratory that has the necessary ultrasonography equipment and is currently the method of choice for treating uncomplicated iatrogenic femoral artery injuries at our institution.     

Pseudoaneurysm of the distal thigh after manipulation of a total knee arthroplasty

The authors describe a unique complication after manipulation of a stiff total knee arthroplasty in a 47-year-old man. Four days after undergoing manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), the patient presented with increasing pain and swelling of the affected knee and decreased hemoglobin/hematocrit. Computed tomographic angiogram revealed a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of a segmental branch of the deep femoral artery that was treated with embolization and anterior thigh compartment fasciotomy. Although many complications of MUA have been described, we present a novel finding of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm. Ruptured pseudoaneurysm should be included in the differential diagnosis whenever a patient presents with pain and swelling of the thigh after MUA given its potential morbidity.