Expanded indications for ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of pseudoaneurysms

Delayed ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm presentation after percutaneous cardiac intervention: A case report and review of the literature

PURPOSE

Here we present a case of a 62-year-old female with a delayed ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm presentation after cardiac catheterization.

CASE REPORT

A 62-year-old woman with multiple medical comorbidities including end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) and atrial fibrillation on tablet apixaban who presented 8 weeks after cardiac catheterization through right ulnar artery access with a pulsatile mass, pain, and tingling of her right-hand fingers. Ultrasound exam confirmed presence of ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm with >2 cm active chamber. This pseudoaneurysm was repaired via forearm exploration, evacuation of hematoma, and primary repair with non-absorbable sutures.

CONCLUSION

We report a case of delayed ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm presentation following cardiac catheterization through the right ulnar artery. Open surgical repair offers a definitive addressal of ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm and removes ulnar nerve compressive neuropathy with less risk of distal embolization in patients with delayed pseudoaneurysm presentation whenever ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) is contraindicated.

Interventional Radiological Treatment of Orthotopic Heart Transplant Complications

Orthotopic heart transplantation is a life-saving procedure that has substantially improved the lives of countless patients since its inception. However, there are several procedure-related complications that require prompt management. Interventional radiology, with its ever expanding toolkit, is a cornerstone of the multidisciplinary team following post-cardiac transplant patients. Percutaneous, endovascular therapy provides minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatments for immediate and delayed cardiac transplant complications and this paper serves to highlight the various management options interventional radiology can provide for orthotopic heart transplantation complications.

Area reduction of perforation with a small-size sheath technique for iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm with a large perforation

Open surgery for femoral artery pseudoaneurysms is invasive, and complications can be detrimental. Several cases of treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms using percutaneous suture-mediated closure devices have been reported. However, it is difficult to properly deploy the foot of the device to the arterial wall when the perforation area is large. We developed a technique using a double guidewire to partially occupy the perforation with a small-size sheath, which reduces the area of the perforation. This AREPAS (area reduction of perforation with a small-sized sheath) technique might allow for minimally invasive closure of perforations even in patients with large perforation areas.

Pseudoaneurysm temporary embolization as a new method for the management of catheter-related complication

A new minimally invasive method for the management of catheter-related pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) using percutaneous temporary guidewire embolization (TGE) is presented. We performed percutaneous insertion of a flexible 0.018-in. guidewire into the PSA cavity under ultrasound guidance. Once thrombosis of the PSA cavity was achieved, the guidewire was removed. In all seven cases, TGE was technically feasible and achieved complete thrombosis of the PSA. The time required for PSA thrombosis from insertion to removal of the guidewire ranged from 5 to 40 minutes. TGE is a highly effective, safe, and minimally invasive treatment of PSA.

Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm in an Eight-Year-Old Boy: A Rare Case Report and Review of Literature

Pseudoaneurysms, also known as fake aneurysms, are balloon-like bulges that develop in the arteries and veins. This can happen due to injury, surgery, infection, or other conditions that damage blood vessels. Pseudoaneurysms are usually asymptomatic but can bleed and be painful. Left untreated, they can lead to severe complications such as thrombus formation and distant embolization. Subclavian pseudoaneurysms are rare, which can lead to potentially life-threatening complications of traumatic or iatrogenic injuries to the subclavian artery, such as catheterization. Prompt diagnosis and management are essential to avoid devastating outcomes. We report the case of a pediatric patient who developed a subclavian pseudoaneurysm after neck trauma and was successfully treated with endovascular embolization. This case highlights the importance of timely management and vigilant monitoring for this rare but potentially life-threatening condition.

US-guided percutaneous thrombin injection to treat non-femoral artery pseudoaneurysms: preliminary experience and review of the literature

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical outcome of US-guided percutaneous thrombin injection in the treatment of non-femoral artery pseudoaneurysms (NFAP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Among all pseudoaneurysms treated in our institution, we retrospectively collected NFAP embolized with percutaneous thrombin injections from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2021. The embolization was prompted for an ongoing antiaggregating/anticoagulation therapy, NFAP optimal US visibility, or high surgery-related risks. Causes, location, size and neck of NFAP, complications, number of repeated treatments, clinical success and patients clinical conditions at discharge were annotated. The endpoint for clinical success was the resolution of NFAP at postprocedural imaging, with no resort to surgery.

RESULTS

Eight consecutive patients (5 females, median age 73 years, range 46-84) underwent 16 procedures. Arterial damage was due to catheterization (3), CVC mispositioning (2), trauma, hemorrhagic diathesis and endoprosthesis endoleak. We treated humeral (2), subclavian (2), thyrocervical, anterior tibial, radial and pancreaticoduodenal arteries. Median pseudoaneurysm size was 530 mm² (range 32-2400 mm²), with a thin (7/8) or non-visible (1/8) neck. No complications occurred. Clinical success was obtained in 7/8 patients (88%), with a single treatment in 4, multiple in 3 cases (4 embolizations, 3 and 2, respectively). One patient underwent surgical suture after the second failed attempt of percutaneous embolization. Seven patients were discharged in good clinical conditions; one died during hospitalization, due to the worsening of the underlying cardiac disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous US-guided thrombin injection to treat NFAP is feasible in selected cases, with rare complications. Clinical success is often reached, also by repeated injections.

Vascular surgical management of profunda femoris artery aneurysms: A single center experience

OBJECTIVE

Profunda femoris artery aneurysms (PFAAs), which comprise true profunda femoris artery aneurysms (TPFAAs) and profunda femoris artery pseudoaneuryms (PFA PSAs), are rare but clinically significant diseases of the peripheral arterial vasculature. Our aim is to describe our institution's 15-year experience with PFAAs (TPFAAs and PFA PSAs) to provide insight into patient characteristics, diagnostic imaging modalities, and surgical interventions that contribute to clinically important outcomes in patients with PFAAs.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study at our institution using our radiology database.

RESULTS

We identified six patients with PFA PSAs and four patients with TPFAAs. The clinical presentation of PFA PSAs included a triad of thigh pain, bleeding, and unexplained anemia. There was variety in the aetiologies of PFA PSAs, arising from catheterizations, upper thigh fractures, anastomotic complications, or unknown causes. Most patients with PFA PSAs had hypertension and coronary artery disease, and half of our cohort had peripheral vascular disease. All patients were imaged with duplex ultrasonography (DUS) or computed tomography (CT), the latter being more accurate. All patients with PFA PSAs underwent endovascular treatment, including glue, thrombin, or coil embolization as well as stent-graft insertions. All TPFAAs presented to our center were small and incidentally discovered, explaining the conservative management of our TPFAAs. Two of the four TPFAAs were idiopathic in nature, while one was attributed to post-stenotic dilatation, and another was found in a patient with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. There was an association between TPFAAs and multiple synchronous or asynchronous aneurysms.

CONCLUSION

Pseudoaneurysms of the PFA are mostly iatrogenic in nature and can present with the triad of thigh swelling, bleeding, and unexplained anemia. If the clinical picture is suggestive of a PFA PSA but DUS does not detect a pseudoaneurysm, CT may be added as a more accurate imaging modality. Endovascular embolization is used in smaller pseudoaneurysms and in poor surgical candidates. Multiple glue, coil, or thrombin injections may be required to fully thrombose the pseudoaneurysm sac. True aneurysms of the PFA are associated with synchronous/asynchronous aneurysms and small TPFAAs should be carefully monitored, as there is a risk of enlargement and rupture.

Endovascular Management of a Large Femoral Pseudoaneurysm: A Case Report and Literary Review

Femoral artery pseudoaneurysms have an increased incidence over the past few years due to the rise in percutaneous catheterization and so have the potential treatment options. Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection has been strongly studied, and data have shown its efficacy, safety, and superiority to ultrasound-guided compression therapy as well as open surgical repair; however, a less well-studied approach that appears to be burgeoning is endovascular stent repair. Many small studies and case reports have shown this option to be not only effective but also safe and might be the treatment option of choice in patients who are deemed high risk for surgical intervention or with complicated anatomical considerations at the site of injury. In this case report, we describe a 71-year-old man with an expanding right groin hematoma which was discovered to be a right superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm with a venous fistula connection to the common femoral vein. Due to the patient’s venous fistula component, high surgical risk from substantial comorbidities, and large pseudoaneurysm size with a wide pseudoaneurysm neck, thrombin injection, compression therapy, and open surgical repair were ruled out as potential treatments; therefore, endovascular stent repair was performed. The procedure was successful, as was the patient’s postoperative period. This case report and literary review can support and further validate the usage of endovascular stent repair to treat femoral artery pseudoaneurysms.

A Challenging Case of Postcholecystectomy Pseudoaneurysm at an Uncommon Location

Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm in postcholecystectomy choleduodenal fistula is an extremely rare but clinically significant complication. A 52-year-old male presented with hematemesis and melena several weeks after open cholecystectomy for complicated gallstone disease. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed bleeding from the choledochoduodenal fistula site. On computed tomography angiography, a small right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm close to fistula site was identified. Endovascular embolization failed due to nonopacification of the proximal right hepatic artery. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided embolization was also unsuccessful due to the small size of the aneurysm and inadequate visualization. Following this, percutaneous n-butyl cyanoacrylate glue was successfully injected into the pseudoaneurysm. The patient recovered and was planned for hepaticojejunostomy to restore biliary continuity.

Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection for Postcatheterization Pseudoaneurysms and Its Extended Indications

Objective: Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) is an option for the treatment of postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms. This method is less invasive and less time-consuming compared with other procedures since it can be performed without general anesthesia, skin incision, or occlusion of the artery. Herein, we report on the efficacy of UGTI for postcatheterization bleeding complications.

Methods: Postcatheterization bleeding complications include postcatheterization pseudoaneurysm and failed hemostasis. In this study, failed hemostasis was defined as cases in which hemostasis could not be accomplished by 30 min of manual compression following sheath removal. A retrospective study of eight cases in which we performed UGTI for postcatheterization bleeding complications between July 2016 and June 2019 at our institution was performed to evaluate technical success and recurrence of pseudoaneurysm or rebleeding events.

Results: Among these eight cases, there were three cases of pseudoaneurysm and five cases of failed hemostasis. In all cases, technical success was achieved without any complications such as distal embolism or allergic reaction. There were no recurrences of pseudoaneurysm or rebleeding events during an average follow-up of 5.25 months.

Conclusion: We believe that UGTI is effective not only for postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms but also for failed hemostasis.

Radial Artery Pseudoaneurysm Following Cardiac Catheterization: A Case Report

The transradial approach is the most preferred method for cardiac catheterization. The radial route approach has many advantages, including fewer puncture site-related complications and early mobility and discharge. The vascular complications include radial artery spasms, occlusions, dissections, perforations, and compartment syndrome. Although pseudoaneurysms are a well-known complication of femoral access (0.2%-3%), pseudoaneurysms are very infrequent (0.05%) after radial artery access. Very few cases of radial pseudoaneurysms have been reported to date. We present a rare case of an 82-year-old man on dual antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy who underwent coronary angiography via the radial route. The patient developed a pseudoaneurysm requiring surgical intervention.

Balloon-Assisted Percutaneous Thrombin Injection for Treatment of Iatrogenic Left Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm in a Critically Ill COVID-19 Patient

Background

Central venous catheter represents an important tool in the management of critically ill patient. In this report, we described a COVID-19-positive case who had COVID-related complications and iatrogenic left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm after central venous catheter insertion. Case Presentation. A 58-year-old male patient presented with a high-grade fever, myalgia, and shortness of breath due to COVID-19 infection. He required mechanical ventilation support and hemodialysis. He also developed uneventful deep vein thrombosis and myocardial infarction. As a complication of central line insertion, the patient developed pseudoaneurysm that originated from the subclavian artery with significant bleeding and large hematoma. Balloon-assisted percutaneous thrombin injection was done under ultrasound guidance. The patient was extubated 2 days later with no evidence of flow in the pseudoaneurysm. However, he lost movement in the left arm secondary to the compression of the brachial plexus from the pseudoaneurysm/hematoma, and therefore, 1.5 litres of the hematoma was evacuated in the operating room through a lateral left chest wall incision along the anterior axillary line to relieve the compression over the brachial plexus. The patient declined surgical reconstruction of the brachial plexus, and the flaccid paralysis of the arm did not recover during the follow-up.

Conclusion

This is a case of unusual complications of COVID infection and iatrogenic left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm postcentral vein cannulation. Balloon-assisted percutaneous thrombin injection for treatment of left subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm is feasible; however, delayed diagnosis could be associated with long-term or permanent disability.

Effective treatment of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms by combined endovascular balloon inflation and percutaneous thrombin injection

The increasing number of percutaneous endovascular procedures in highly anticoagulated patients has increased the possibility of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (IFAP). Ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous thrombin injection is one of the feasible treatments; however, there are concerns about complications such as peripheral embolization. This study was performed to examine the efficacy and safety of treatment of IFAPs using a combination of percutaneous thrombin injection and intravascular balloon inflation. In this retrospective, single-center study, we analyzed 11 patients who developed and were treated for IFAPs from January 2017 through April 2020. The patients were treated with endovascular therapy (EVT) with percutaneous thrombin injection. The technique utilized fluoroscopic guidance to place a balloon at the neck of the IFAP, and the balloon was then inflated to prevent the inflow of blood to the aneurysm. We then performed US-guided thrombin injection. The mean age was 72.36 ± 10.43 years; mean body mass index (BMI) was 25.25 ± 3.18. All patients had hypertension, 72.7% were undergoing hemodialysis, and 54.5% used oral anticoagulant drugs. The mean aneurysm size was 24.34 ± 13.54 mm. The approach was transfemoral in ten patients and transradial in one patient. All procedures were successful, and there were no complications. The mean thrombin dose was 677.3 ± 410.7 IU; the total hemostatic time was 45.4 ± 24.9 min. In conclusion, the combination of percutaneous thrombin injection and endovascular balloon inflation was feasible and safe for the treatment of IFAPs. This technique may contribute to the treatment of IFAPs.

Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the medial plantar artery with arteriovenous fistula treated by coil embolization of the main feeding artery and percutaneous thrombin injection

Endovascular treatment for post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm (PsA) has been deemed effective and minimally invasive. However, embolization of all feeding and outflow vessels is difficult if multiple fine arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) are present. In the present case, PsA of the medial plantar artery with AVF was diagnosed 1 month after injury by a rusty nail. Treatment using a combination of embolization of only the main feeding artery and percutaneous thrombin injection into PsA was successful. This approach can completely resolve PsA in narrow vessels, such as in the foot, particularly when AVF is present with numerous connected vessels.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound-guided thrombin injection in the management of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm (PSA): A case report and review of literatures

Pseudoaneurysm (PSA) formation is the most common arterial complication of endovascular procedures requiring arterial puncture. The present study reported a case of a 72-year-old male patient with iatrogenic femoral artery PSA treated with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)-guided thrombin injection. Conventional ultrasound (US) and CEUS were used to diagnose, guide treatment, and evaluate the treatment efficacy. In the case, the PSA was successfully occluded with 1000 IU of thrombin. During the follow-up after 48 hours of thrombin injection, US found that the PSA had complete thrombosis without arterial supply. No complications occurrence in the course of the treatment. CEUS-guided thrombin injection for the treatment of PSA was effective and safety and the associated literatures were also reviewed.

Open repair of a plantar artery pseudoaneurysm after Morton's neurectomy

A 65-year-old woman presented to our institution with 4 months of severe pain on the plantar aspect of her foot. She had chronic foot pain secondary to Morton's neuroma and had recently undergone neurectomy. She was found to have a large pseudoaneurysm on the plantar aspect of her foot. She was taken to the operating room for an open repair from a plantar approach. We obtained the patient's consent to publish this case.

Percutaneous Transgastric–Transpancreatic Treatment of a Dissecting Splenic Artery Pseudoaneurysm due to Segmental Arterial Mediolysis

Dissecting splenic artery pseudoaneurysm due to segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is a rare condition. We describe a case of direct percutaneous transgastric–transpancreatic thrombin injection into a dissecting splenic artery pseudoaneurysm due to SAM. The direct thrombin injection resulted in successful thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm. At 1-month follow-up, the patient remained well with persistent thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm.

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection versus ultrasound-guided compression repair in the treatment of post-catheterization femoral artery pseudoaneurysm: King Saud University Medical Center Experience

Background

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided thrombin injection versus ultrasound-guided compression repair in the management of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms.

Methods

Between June 2006 and December 2015, a total of 29 consecutive patients (15 males, 14 females; mean age 54 years; range 26 to 81 years) with a femoral pseudoaneurysm treated by ultrasound-guided thrombin injection were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were compared with a historical group of 36 patients (21 males, 15 females; mean age 44 years; range 32 to 65 years) who underwent ultrasound-guided compression repair between February 1999 and May 2006. Medical records and vascular laboratory findings of all patients were reviewed. Successful treatment was defined as complete cessation of flow into the false lumen with preservation of flow in the femoral artery.

Results

The ultrasound-guided thrombin injection showed a success rate of 100%, whereas ultrasound-guided compression repair had a success rate of 80.5%, which was possibly affected by anticoagulant therapy, hypertension, and an aneurysm size of >6 cm. However, none of these factors did not affect the success of thrombin injections.

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection is a highly successful, easy to perform, accepted, and well-tolerated method by patients. It is more effective compared to compression therapy in patients with hypertension, large aneurysms, and who are on anticoagulant therapy.

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injections for arterial pseudoaneurysms: a 14-year study conducted at King Khalid University Hospital Vascular Lab

BACKGROUND

Arterial pseudoaneurysms are a well-known complication resulting from procedures requiring arterial wall puncture. Previously, surgical repair was the definitive treatment option for arterial pseudoaneurysms despite being relatively invasive and time-consuming. Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) has become the standard of care since its initial description back in 1997. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of UGTI for the treatment of arterial pseudoaneurysms at the King Khalid University Hospital Vascular Lab.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data was conducted on all patients diagnosed with arterial pseudoaneurysms by Doppler ultrasound between 2006 and 2019. Patients with large arterial pseudoaneurysms (>1.5 cm) qualified for thrombin injections. Individuals with a known hypersensitive to thrombin were excluded. All included patients were treated with UGTI until resolution and were followed at postoperative days 7 and 30.

RESULTS

In all, 35 patients qualified for thrombin injections. The mean age of the included patient population was 56.5 (range, 24-81) years. The majority of them were hypertensive (N.=26, 74.3%), and a quarter of them were on anticoagulant treatment (N.=9, 25%). The mean thrombin injection dose was 1000 U (range, 500-1500 U). In 34 of 35 (97.1%) patients, a thrombin injection resulted in complete thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm lumen within a few seconds. There were no complications or recurrence of pseudoaneurysm after UGTI during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Throughout the study period of 14 years, we did not encounter any procedural complications or arterial pseudoaneurysm recurrence. This is attributed to a safe procedural technique and proper patient selection. UGTI for arterial pseudoaneurysms is a safe, successful, and convenient treatment for both patients and surgeons.

Avoiding peripheral nerve injury in arterial interventions

Although peripheral nerve injuries secondary to angiography and endovascular interventions are uncommon and usually not permanent, they can result in significant functional impairment. Most arteries used in access for angiography and endovascular therapies lie in close proximity to a nerve. The nerve may be injured by needle puncture, or by compression from hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, hemostasis devices, or by manual compression with incidence in literature ranging from as low as 0.04% for femoral access in a large retrospective study to 9% for brachial and axillary access. Given the increasing frequency of endovascular arterial procedures and the increasing use of nontraditional access points, it is important that the interventionalist have a working knowledge of peripheral nerve anatomy and function as it relates to relevant arterial access sites to avoid injury.

Update on complications and their management during transradial cardiac catheterization

Introduction: Transradial artery access (TRA) was introduced in 1989 and has been universally used as an alternative approach to the traditional transfemoral access (TFA). Complications of TRA include asymptomatic and less likely symptomatic radial artery occlusion, nonocclusive radial artery injury, radial artery spasm, radial arterial perforation, radial artery pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, granuloma formation, access-site bleeding, nerve damage, complex regional pain syndrome along with other rare complications.Areas covered: A literature search was performed using MedLine, PubMed, and Google Scholar (dating to 1 May 2019). Authors reviewed all articles related to transradial artery catheterization, its complications, as well as novel techniques for their management. The article provides insight on the incidence, risk factors, and prevention of such complications along with a description of usual and newer techniques to decrease morbidity.Expert opinion: With increasing experience, TRA complication rate is decreasing and new very uncommon complications are being described. A 'radial first' approach should be implemented in all catheterization laboratories and a physician's familiarity with minor and major complications is a must. Distal radial artery access through the snuff box might be the preferred site of accessing the radial artery and further studies will be needed to prove its superiority to the current access site.

Manual Radial Artery Compression After Transradial Coronary Procedures: Is It Safe to Go Bare-Handed?

Although the superiority of manual compression of the radial, mainly due to its selectivity and progressive grading, had been hypothesized from the early days of the transradial use, data on efficacy and safety of this method are only scarce. This review tries to delineate the aspects of manual hemostasis in transradial catheterization. Current data demonstrate that manual compression of the radial artery is a possible (second line) hemostatic option in transradial catheterization with main advantage the shorter hemostasis duration, and major disadvantage the need for larger involvement of post-procedural care team in hemostasis. Manual compression of the radial artery is a possible (second line) hemostatic option with main advantage the shorter hemostasis duration, and major disadvantages the need for larger involvement of post-procedural care team in hemostasis.

Acute Upper Limb Ischemia Due to Delayed Presentation of a Brachial Artery Pseudoaneurysm Post-Venipuncture

Brachial artery pseudoaneurysms (BAPs) are rare but could lead to complications of high morbidity. We report a case of a BAP presenting with hand ischemia and median nerve neuropathy nearly a decade after the inciting iatrogenic trauma, successfully treated with excision and direct repair. This report highlights that untreated pseudoaneurysms can be indolent and present late with both symptoms of embolization and local compression.

Interventional treatment options in pseudoaneurysms: different techniques in different localizations

Pseudoaneurysms are commonly experienced vascular abnormalities. The increase in the number of surgical and arteriographic procedures has caused a higher prevalence of pseudoaneurysms. Conventional angiography is still the gold standard method for diagnosis, but other imaging modalities such as duplex Doppler ultrasonography, magnetic resonance angiography and computed tomographic angiography are useful in noninvasive detection. Over the past few years, interventional radiological treatment has evolved and taken the place of surgery in management. There are different kinds of percutaneous and endovascular treatment methods in pseudoaneurysm management. Treatment options depend on certain conditions. We used a case-based approach to discuss pseudoaneurysms and their appropriate treatment by interventional radiological methods in this article.

Scintigraphic assessment of arterial embolism at mixed thrombin and technetium 99m injection therapy for femoral pseudoaneurysms

BACKGROUND

Clinically evident arterial thrombosis is rare following thrombin injection therapy for femoral pseudoaneurysm. However, it is unclear to what extent injected thrombin may pass to the ipsilateral lower limb arteries.

AIMS

To assess if technetium 99m injected at the time of thrombin injection for femoral artery pseudoaneurysm therapy passes into the adjacent lower limb arteries.

METHODS

This was a prospective trial with institutional review board approval. Four consecutive patients with common femoral pseudoaneurysms and failed manual compression were enrolled. Under real-time colour flow doppler ultrasound, a mixture of 1000 IU thrombin and approximately 200 MBq technetium 99m was injected in 0.1-mL doses into the pseudoaneurysm until thrombosis occurred. Gamma camera imaging of the syringe before injection, the injected groin after thrombosis and the syringe after injection were performed. Analysis of the gamma camera information was performed to determine the amount of technetium 99m deposited in the arterial tree.

RESULTS

All the procedures were technically successful. A mean of 33% (range 3-50%; SD 21) of the administered technetium 99m dose was deposited in the arterial circulation during pseudoaneurysm therapy. No clinically evident arterial thrombosis was identified.

CONCLUSION

Technetium 99m is routinely deposited in the arterial circulation following injection of a mixture of thrombin and technetium for therapy of common femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. This suggests that arterial passage of thrombin is more common than clinically evident.

Ankle pseudoaneurysm: distal posterior tibial artery pseudoaneurysm in a child following blunt trauma

Pseudoaneurysm of the ankle involving the posterior tibial artery is a rare presentation with only four paediatric cases previously reported in English literature. We report a new case following blunt trauma with the clinical presentation and management strategy. A 6-year-old boy presented with a pulsatile swelling at the medial aspect of ankle following a history of blunt trauma 3 weeks ago. Imaging confirmed pseudoaneurysm involving the distal posterior tibial artery. Excision of the pseudoaneurysm was performed without any complication.

Factors associated with pseudoaneurysm development and necessity for reintervention: a single centre study

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the factors associated with pseudoaneurysm development and morphology. Measure ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) and surgical treatment outcomes for pseudoaneurysms, and the necessity for post-primary intervention (reintervention).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of ultrasound scans and CT angiography of peripheral pseudoaneurysm interventions from February 2011 to April 2017. 99 patients (61.6% female) were identified; median age 72 years (range 12-89). Multivariate analysis of patient demographics, including pre-intervention anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication was performed.

RESULTS

Primary intervention for peripheral pseudoaneurysms (62.6% common femoral artery) included 93 UGTI and 6 surgical repairs; with 12 reinterventions (9 UGTI and 3 surgical). Pseudoaneurysm incidence for vascular interventional radiology (VIR) was 0.48% (31/6451) and cardiology was 0.24% (60/25,229). Rates for primary success, immediate complications, 30-day mortality and reintervention were measured respectively for UGTI (98.9%, 3.0%, 2.0%, and 11.8%) and surgical repair (100%, 0.0%, 22.2% and 16.7%). Reintervention risk factors included pre-intervention thrombocytopaenia (<150 × 10⁹/L) ( p = 0.025) and pseudoaneurysms following vascular surgery (p = 0.033). Other positive associations for reintervention (non-significant) included use of a sheath size > 6 Fr ( p = 0.108) or arterial closure device ( p = 0.111) during the pseudoaneurysm causative procedure. The pre-intervention warfarin subgroup developed a larger mean pseudoaneurysm sac size (4.21 cm, range 0.9-7.6), compared to no treatment (p = 0.003), aspirin (p = 0.005) and clopidogrel (p = 0.026) subgroups. UGTI dosage for thrombosis had a positive correlation with incremental sac size increase (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The main reintervention risk factor was pre-intervention thrombocytopaenia, with additional positive associations including pseudoaneurysms caused by surgery, increased sheath size and arterial closure devices. Warfarinized patients developed larger sac-sized pseudoaneurysms compared with other pre-intervention regimens, with positive correlation of higher UGTI dosage required for thrombosis.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

Patients with pre-intervention thrombocytopaenia and pseudoaneurysms attributed to vascular surgery are subgroups that may benefit from post-intervention imaging surveillance due to significant reintervention risk.

Percutaneous puncture and embolisation for pancreatitis-related pseudoaneurysm: the feasibility of thrombin injection even in collection of fluid surrounding the pseudoaneurysm

Purpose

Pancreatitis-related pseudoaneurysm, a potentially life-threatening condition, is treated utilising endovascular management as a first choice and alternatively by percutaneous direct puncture of the aneurysm and embolisation.

Case report

A 50-year-old man with alcohol-induced necrotic pancreatitis underwent transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) for multiple pancreatic pseudoaneurysms. TAE failed in one enlarged aneurysm in the pancreatic body, and percutaneous direct needle puncture and coagulation using thrombin was planned. Precise puncture of the aneurysmal sac under fluoroscopy and computed tomographic (CT) guidance failed, but we could inject about 500 units of thrombin through the outer cannula into the collection of fluid surrounding the aneurysm. Compared to preoperative images, contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) showed shrinkage of the pseudoaneurysm without complications just after the procedure and its disappearance five days after the procedure.

Conclusions

Percutaneous direct puncture and embolisation is a feasible choice to treat pancreatic pseudoaneurysms, and injection of thrombin even into the collection of fluid surrounding the pseudoaneurysm can be a viable alternative, especially in cases in which precise puncture of the aneurysmal sac is difficult because of its size and location.

Pseudoaneurysm

Pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) are commonly known as complications associated with invasive interventions. Because of the pulsatile in- and outflow of blood through the neck of PSAs, they tend to grow and, in the worse cases, can rupture. Therapeutic options are compression therapy, using a compression bandage and ultrasound-guided compression, and thrombin injection. Manual ultrasound-guided compression is widely performed and is successful in most cases. In general, it is combined with a subsequently applied compression bandage. Thrombin injection is a more difficult technique, but it has a higher success rate. This article gives an overview of the characteristics of PSAs, their diagnostic characteristics and the therapeutic methods used to treat them. Complications associated with compression or thrombin injection are also explained in detail.

Traumatic Aorto-Cisterna Chlyi Fistula with Treatment of Aortic Pseudoaneurysm with CT-Guided Thrombin Injection

BACKGROUND

Only 3 cases of aorto-cisterna chyli fistula have been described in the literature but none with a resulting pseudoaneurysm (PSA).

METHODS

A 68-year-old man presented following a motor vehicle collision. Imaging revealed a retroperitoneal hematoma with enhancement of the cisterna chyli, representing an aortic to cisterna chyli fistula. Three days later, computed tomography angiography showed resolution of the fistula, but revealed a PSA. The patient underwent arteriography that confirmed the PSA, and then a computed tomography-guided thrombin injection was performed. Follow-up imaging showed resolution of the PSA.

RESULTS

Only 3 cases of aorto-cisterna chyli fistula have been described. We hypothesize that this fistula was caused from his L2 vertebral body fracture, which avulsed the lumbar artery and injured the cisterna chyli. The cisterna chyli provided an outflow tract for the aortic injury. We believe this type of fistula follows a benign clinical course. Aorto-cisterna chyli fistula is rare, and reports point to spontaneous resolution. Our case is unique in that the patient progressed from a fistula to a PSA. Options for treatment of this PSA include covered stent graft, open repair, coil embolization, or thrombin injection.

CONCLUSIONS

This case report describes an extremely rare diagnosis and the natural history of this aorto-cisterna chyli fistula. Furthermore, the resulting aortic PSA was successfully treated with computed tomography-guided thrombin injection, which in the appropriate setting, should be considered an acceptable option.

Do not underestimate the femoral pseudoaneurysm

Abstract. In addition to haematoma and arteriovenous fistula, the iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm is a common complication of vascular access that is caused by a perforation in the arterial wall. Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms can progress in size and lead to rupture and active bleeding. Over the previous few decades, therapeutic methods have evolved from surgical repair to less invasive options, such as ultrasound-guided compression therapy (UGCT) and ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI). This paper presents an overview of the diagnostic and treatment modalities used in femoral pseudoaneurysms as well as a comprehensive summary of previous studies that analysed the success and complication rates of UGCT and UGTI.

Radial Artery Pseudoaneurysm in a Post-operative Case of Midshaft Radius Fracture

Introduction:

Pseudoaneurysms of arteries are not uncommon complications of vessel handling during surgery. Early identification and management is important to prevent disastrous complications such as rupture and thrombosis.

Case Report:

We describe a case of a 28-year-old male who developed a pseudoaneurysm of the radial artery after being operated by plating for a mid-shaft radius fracture. He presented 2 weeks after surgery with swelling over the forearm which was confirmed to be a pseudoaneurysm after computed tomography angiography. It was treated with surgical excision and end-to-end anastomosis.

Conclusion:

A high index of suspicion must be maintained about the occurrence of this complication secondary to both trauma and surgery

Selective use of Duplex Ultrasound after Successful Thrombin Injection of Pseudoaneurysms

Introduction

Duplex-guided thrombin injection (DGTI) has been shown to be a safe and efficacious initial treatment of iatrogenic arterial pseudoaneurysms. Postinjection follow-up duplex ultrasound examination has become the accepted standard of care despite 1) the use of intraprocedural ultrasonography to monitor successful thrombosis, 2) a low post-DGTI recurrence rate, and 3) the relatively high cost of ultrasonography. A retrospective study of DGTI at our institution was conducted to examine the necessity of routine duplex ultrasound after successful DGTI, along with a review of the relevant literature.

Patient Population/Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of 82 patients with iatrogenic arterial pseudoaneurysms (12 complex; 25.6%) treated with DGTI after initial diagnostic duplex ultrasonography. Immediate routine follow-up duplex ultrasound was performed on 71 of 82 cases (86.6%), whereas 11 patients received only clinical follow-up at the surgeon's discretion. Patient demographics, pseudoaneurysm anatomy, procedural details, outcomes, and complications were retrospectively documented and analyzed.

Results

From January 2002 to November 2003, 82 patients (59.8% women) underwent DGTI for pseudoaneurysm, with the majority located in the common femoral artery (48 of 82; 58.5%). Eighty pseudoaneurysms (97.6%) were treated with DGTI, with 78 (95.1%) being initially successful. Four of 78 (5%) follow-up examinations were judged to be of clinical significance: 2 of 78 patients (2.6%) became symptomatic and experienced pseudoaneurysm recurrence, whereas 2 of 78 patients were found to have an additional, previously undocumented, pseudoaneurysm. Three of these four resolved with a second injection, whereas one resolved without additional treatment. No thromboembolic, allergic, or infectious complications related to DGTI occurred.

Conclusions

In concert with the available literature, this cohort confirms that DGTI is a safe and effective treatment of iatrogenic arterial pseudoaneurysms with a low rate of recurrence, complication, and need for conversion to surgical intervention. DGTI should undoubtedly be the initial treatment of choice for pseudoaneurysms; however, follow-up duplex ultrasonography can be reserved for the clinically symptomatic patient.

Stent Graft Exclusion of Pseudo-Aneurysm Arising from PTFE Hemodialysis Graft after Recurrence following Ultrasound Guided Thrombin Injection

There are various non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques for management of pseudoaneurysms including ultrasound guided compression, ultrasound guided thrombin injection and covered stent placement. We report a case where a covered stent graft was successfully used for the treatment of a pseudoaneurysm directly arising from a PTFE graft which recurred 3 months following treatment with ultrasound guided thrombin injection.

Successful Balloon Assisted Percutaneous Thrombin Injection of Right Subclavian Artery Pseudoaneurysm

Purpose

To report the use of a balloon catheter to facilitate percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of a subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm.

Case report

A 36-year-old man presented with hoarseness after the insertion of a right temporary internal jugular line. Arteriography showed a short neck right subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm. A 6 mm × 40 mm balloon catheter was positioned across the neck of the pseudoaneurysm to permit percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection. Immediate post-treatment angiogram demonstrated no filling of the pseudoaneurysm. Seven-month clinical and imaging follow-up confirmed resolution of the pseudoaneurysm and hoarseness.

Conclusions

This clinical vignette highlights the potential of balloon catheter-assisted percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection as an alternative to open or endovascular repair of pseudoaneurysms of the subclavian arteries.

Pseudoaneurysm of a high-division anterior tibial artery following primary TKA

Arterial complications following total knee arthroplasty are rare but carry a high risk of significant morbidity and mortality. Herein, the authors report a case of pseudoaneurysm in a branch of a high-division anterior tibial artery caused by laceration by the retractor following primary total knee arthroplasty in a 72-year-old woman. The patient presented with an unexplained hematoma and an enlarging swelling, with pallor and acute hemorrhage on the first postoperative day. The diagnosis was confirmed by arteriography and the patient was successfully treated using endovascular embolization without long-term complications. Because of the high risk of progression to a potentially limb- or life-threatening condition, it is important to discuss the risk factors for this complication, as well as its early diagnosis and treatment methods.

Non-invasive repair of an iatrogenic tibial artery branch pseudoaneurysm after intramedullary nailing

Tibial fractures are a commonly seen injury in orthopedic surgery. Intramedullary nailing is considered the standard of care, as complications are rare. Those of a vascular nature, including iatrogenically induced pseudoaneurysms of the tibial artery have been previously described in the literature, however each reported case has required surgical repair. In the current case, we describe a repair of a tibial artery branch pseudoaneurysm, after direct contact with an interlocking screw from tibial intramedullary nailing, via ultrasound-guided thrombin injection. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a tibial artery pseudoaneurysm repaired non-surgically. This adds support to the promising literature on non-invasive repair of orthopedically related pseudoaneurysms.

Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection of Iatrogenic Pseudoaneurysms Based on Neck Dimension

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms after endovascular procedures is an effective therapy. There is controversy in the literature regarding injecting pseudoaneurysms with short and/or wide necks. This article reports our experience in UGTI of pseudoaneurysms in 1 hospital regarding the efficacy of this treatment in all pseudoaneurysms regardless of the size of the necks.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 46 patients diagnosed between 2011 and 2016 with groin pseudoaneurysms using established duplex ultrasound criteria. Mean age was 68 years (range 27-87). Ten pseudoaneurysms thrombosed spontaneously, 5 were thrombosed by ultrasound-guided compression, and 2 were treated surgically due to disqualifying criteria. In this retrospective review, we analyzed the remaining 29 pseudoaneurysms regarding the dimensions of their neck lengths and outcomes after attempting thrombin injection.

RESULTS

The mean aneurysm neck length and width were 1.03 ± 0.9 cm and 0.30 ± 0.1 cm, respectively. All 29 patients were evaluated with respect to pseudoaneurysm size, neck length, neck width, and complexity. Successful treatment of 29 pseudoaneurysms (2 external iliac, 20 common femoral, 2 deep femoral, and 5 superficial femoral) with UGTI was achieved without complications in 100% of the cases, regardless of pseudoaneurysm size, neck dimensions, or complexity. Anticoagulation status did not affect the efficacy of the procedure. Nine of the 29 pseudoaneurysms (31.0%) had neck length less than 0.5 cm.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates the safety and efficacy of UGTI in treating iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm in 29 of 29 patients, even in patients with pseudoaneurysm with short neck lengths. Our experiences support injecting all pseudoaneurysms irrespective of dimension.

Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection of Nongroin Arterial Pseudoaneurysms

PURPOSE

To evaluate success and complication rates of percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection of nongroin pseudoaneurysms (PSAs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained institutional database yielded 39 cases of arterial PSAs occurring at nongroin sites that were treated with percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection between 2000 and 2016 (average patient age 69.2 y ± 14.0). Of PSAs, 74.4% (29/39) arose in the upper extremities, and 92.3% (36/39) were iatrogenic. The brachial artery was the most commonly affected vessel (51.3% [20/39]), and arterial access was the most common cause (56.4% [22/39]). Average overall PSA size was 2.4 cm (range, 0.5-7.2 cm); average amount of thrombin injected was 320 IU (range, 50-2,000 IU). Technical success was defined as absence of flow within the PSA immediately after thrombin injection. Treatment success was defined as sustained thrombosis on follow-up imaging obtained at 1-3 days after treatment.

RESULTS

Technical and treatment success rates of thrombin injections were 100% (39/39) and 84.8% (28/33), respectively. Longer term follow-up imaging (average 71 d; range, 12-201 d) was available for 7 of the treatment successes with 100% (7/7) showing sustained thrombosis. Comparing treatment successes and failures, there was no significant difference in average PSA size (2.3 cm vs 2.0 cm, P = .51) or average amount of thrombin injected (360 IU vs 180 IU, P = .14). There were no complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection is a safe, efficacious treatment option for PSAs arising in nongroin locations.

Catheter-directed endovascular application of thrombin: Report of 3 cases and review of the literature

PURPOSE

To report 3 new cases of catheter-directed endovascular application of thrombin and explore trends by analysis of published case series.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Institutional Review Board approved this retrospective study. All cases of non-tumoral arterial embolization performed from January 2003 to January 2015 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Thrombin was used in 7 of 589 cases. In 3 cases intra arterial thrombin was injected via catheter to treat active hemorrhage. Four cases were excluded due to percutaneous injection into visceral pseudoaneurysms (n=3) and making ex vivo autologous clot to be injected via catheter (n=1). Fisher's exact and the Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to assess for association with acute nontarget thrombosis.

RESULTS

Catheter-directed thrombin was used in 3/589 (0.5%) cases at our institution. All three cases were technically successful with no further bleeding (100%). Nontarget thrombosis of proximal branches occurred in 2 patients (67%) with no significant clinical consequences. Including our 3 cases, a total of 28 cases were reviewed. Of the variables examined-location (p=0.99), size (p=0.66) and etiology of vascular lesion (p=0.92), pseudoaneurysm neck anatomy (p=0.14), thrombin units (p=0.47), volume (p=0.76) or technique of use of small doses (p=0.99), use of other embolic material (p=0.67) and use of adjunct techniques (p=0.99)-none were found to be significantly associated with acute nontarget thrombosis. Technical success was 96% with no reports of reperfusion after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Catheter-directed endovascular thrombin can be an additional tool to treat pseudoaneurysms not amenable to conventional embolization. Further studies are required to optimize technique and outcomes.

Point-of-care ultrasound and Doppler ultrasound evaluation of vascular injuries in penetrating and blunt trauma

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to describe point-of-care ultrasound and Color flow Duplex Doppler characteristics of penetrating and blunt trauma-related vascular injuries of the limbs and neck.

METHODS

Penetrating and blunt trauma-related vascular injuries such as vein disruption, intimal flap, deep vein thrombosis, arterial dissection, pseudoaneurysm, and arteriovenous fistulae are discussed in this manuscript. Images of the most significant lesions of our personal clinical experience are presented to illustrate point-of-care ultrasound and Color flow Duplex Doppler ultrasound findings.

RESULTS

Penetrating and blunt trauma-related vascular injuries represent a big challenge. While patients with hard signs of arterial damage must be sent immediately to surgical exploration, when there are soft signs or no clear signs of vascular injury at the physical examination, and the patient is stable, imaging investigation and observation can be useful in the diagnosis and management of these patients. Although angiography is the gold standard of the imaging methods, point-of-care ultrasound and Color flow Duplex Doppler ultrasound are widely available, cheaper, noninvasive, and faster to obtain. They can provide bedside valuable information for the identification of some vascular injuries allowing to an integrated management of the trauma patient, enriched by the use of ultrasound.

CONCLUSIONS

Point-of-care ultrasound and Color flow Duplex Doppler examination are increasingly used in the decision making process of trauma-related vascular injuries.

Endovascular management of posttraumatic and iatrogenic large pelvic pseudoaneurysms following biopsy: case report

Pelvic traumatic and iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms supplied by the internal iliac artery are very rare but can present with pain, nerve compression, and rupture. Particularly with more chronic pseudoaneurysms, their imaging appearance can be confusing and they can be mistaken for tumors. We present two cases of pelvic pseudoaneurysms supplied by the superior gluteal artery that were initially mistaken for masses and subsequently biopsied. We report the subsequent successful endovascular embolization technique subsequently utilized for both of these cases. A high index of suspicion should be maintained to avoid biopsy of these lesions. In the appropriately selected patient, an endovascular approach may be safely used to perform embolization.

Radial Artery Pseudoaneurysm with Aberrant Radial Artery Anatomy: An Unusual Presentation of Flexor Tenosynovitis

Purpose Radial artery pseudoaneurysm is uncommon and mainly associated with radial artery cannulization for cardiac intervention or invasive hemodynamic monitoring. It is rarely seen as a result of intra-arterial recreational drug injection. Methods We present the case of a 35-year-old man with a 12-year history of intravenous drug use and 1-year history of intra-arterial drug use who developed radial artery pseudoaneurysm with a right long finger suppurative flexor tenosynovitis and subsequent acute radial-sided hand ischemia. Computed tomography (CT) angiography with three-dimensional reconstructions was used in diagnosis. We treated him with parenteral antibiotics followed by surgical debridement of his infection and removal of the infected pseudoaneurysm. Results Examination of the three-dimensional CT angiogram showed an unusual anatomical variant that likely predisposed him to isolated long finger flexor tenosynovitis. Conclusion Prompt diagnosis and treatment of pseudoaneurysm in this context is crucial to avoiding sepsis, hemorrhage, and irreversible ischemia. In rare cases, imaging can demonstrate an underlying anatomical variant that may be a predisposing factor.