Diagnosis and Treatment of Peripheric Arterial Pseudoaneurysms: Evaluation of the 34 Cases

The increasing number of invasive cardiac centers and interventional diagnostic and therapeutic procedures leads to an increased incidence of iatrogenic or traumatic false aneurysms (pseudoaneurysms) in the extremity arteries. Surgical treatment can be easily performed and has a low risk, but without treatment rupture and embolization can be fatal. In this study, we examined 34 pseudoaneurysm patients operated on between 1999?2006 in Ataturk University School of Medicine Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic. Nineteen patients (55.8%) were male and 15 (44.2%) were female. The mean age was 47.9±5.81 years (range, 14 to 77). The most frequent signs were pulsatil hematoma and thrill. The diganosis of the pseudoaneurysm was established with physical examination, coloured Doppler ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging angiography. The femoral superficial artery was the most common site of presentation with 73.6%. The most important etiologic factor was the arterial puncture aimed diagnosis. In 23 patients (67.6%) the pseudoaneurysmal sac was opened and resected, and after the drainage of the hematoma the puncture point was primarily sutured. In the other patients the continuity of the arterial flow was restored by end-to end anastomoses or graft interposition. The amputation and mortality were not detected. Ischemic changes in the involved extremities have not occured. In this study, we present our clinical experiences relation to arterial pseudoaneurysms.