Compression ultrasonography. Treatment for acute femoral artery pseudoaneurysms in selected cases.

Treatment of pseudoaneurysms has traditionally been surgical. We evaluated 12 patients who developed femoral artery pseudoaneurysms after cardiac catheterization. Using color Doppler ultrasonography steady pressure was applied, occluding flow in both the neck and body of the pseudoaneurysm for 10 minute intervals. Six patients were treated successfully. We believe the same technique was unsuccessful in five additional patients because compression of a short (< 5 mm) or wide neck is ineffective. In one patient the pseudoaneurysm thrombosed spontaneously prior to a treatment attempt. We believe compression ultrasonography of pseudoaneurysms should be offered as a therapeutic alternative to surgery in selected cases.