Retrospective Analysis of 120 Cases of Iatrogenic and Traumatic Peripheral Arterial Pseudoaneurysms

Early identification of vascular access site complications and frequent heart rate and blood pressure monitoring after cardiac catheterization: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Nurses perform frequent heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) monitoring, a widespread and longstanding practice, after cardiac catheterization (CC) to identify vascular access site complications for femoral and radial arterial approach in adult patients.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this scoping review was to answer two questions: (1) how does the available evidence support frequent HR and BP monitoring after CC via femoral and radial approach in adult patients and (2) how does this practice prompt bedside nurses in identifying the procedure's major vascular access site complications, including bleeding, hematoma, and pseudoanurysm?

METHOD

Following the scoping review approach, literature search was conducted (PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar) by two co-authors and medical librarian. We reviewed, evaluated, and analyzed the evidence from twenty articles.

RESULTS

The reviewed medical and nursing literature revealed findings challenging the present practice. Out of fifteen research studies, five found frequent HR and BP monitoring after CC to be uninformative while the remaining ten did not report frequent vital signs. Two research articles reported that vascular complications after CC were discovered by RNs directly assessing the access site or by the patients themselves, unrelated to HR and BP. Five non-research articles were included, which all recommended frequent HR and BP monitoring.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent HR and BP assessment during the recovery period is not supported by empirical research despite being consistently recommended by nursing guidelines and expert opinion articles. Current evidence supports frequent vascular access site assessments and patient education.

Para-Anastomotic Pseudoaneurysms as a Long-Term Complication After Surgical Treatment of Peripheral Artery Disease: Clinical Characteristics and Surgical Treatment

Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is becoming an increasingly prevalent clinical issue, leading to a growing number of patients requiring surgical interventions. Consequently, there is an increasing occurrence of para-anastomotic aneurysms as late complications following primary treatment for PAD. These aneurysms typically arise at the sites of graft implantation and necessitate individualized management strategies based on factors such as location, size, and the patient's overall condition. Materials and Methods: This five-year retrospective study, conducted at a single center, aimed to evaluate the anatomical location, clinical presentation, diagnostic methods, and management strategies for 55 patients treated for femoral and popliteal artery para-anastomotic pseudoaneurysms of the lower limb between January 2018 and June 2024. Treatment approaches were determined based on aneurysm size, the extent of atherosclerosis, and the patient's surgical risk. This study analyzed patient demographics, surgical techniques, postoperative complications, and aneurysm characteristics. Results: Most pseudoaneurysms occurred between 6 and 10 years after the primary procedure. The most common surgical intervention was aneurysmectomy with graft interposition, performed in 46 patients (83.64%), followed by aneurysmectomy with extra-anatomical bypass in 6 patients (10.91%), and endovascular repair (EVAR) in 3 patients (5.45%). Early postoperative complications occurred in 16.36% of patients. The 12-month freedom from graft stenosis was 87.23%, and freedom from anastomotic aneurysm recurrence at 12 months was 100%. Conclusions: This study highlights the critical need for individualized treatment strategies and ongoing surveillance in managing lower-limb para-anastomotic pseudoaneurysms, particularly given the prevalence of lower-limb pain and the high occurrence of such in the common femoral artery. The favorable long-term graft patency rates observed suggest that aneurysmectomy with graft interposition is an effective intervention, reinforcing its role as the primary approach within this patient population.

Spontaneous Celiac Artery Pseudoaneurysm in a Patient With Viral Myocarditis: Coincidence or Consequence?

Spontaneous pseudoaneurysm formation in the celiac artery is a very infrequent occurrence in the absence of trauma or descending aortic dissection. If it continues to progress, it can lead to visceral organ infarction or life-threatening hemoperitoneum. Management is conservative in select cases; however, most patients require an endovascular or surgical approach. The definitive etiology of spontaneous celiac artery pseudoaneurysm remains unclear. We present an intriguing case of a 67-year-old female who presented to the hospital with sudden chest pain preceded by viral prodromal symptoms. She was discharged as a case of viral myocarditis and was re-admitted the same day with acute abdominal pain. Computed tomography with intravenous contrast showed an enlarging eight-millimeter celiac artery pseudoaneurysm managed with endovascular coil embolization. This case report demonstrates spontaneous celiac artery pseudoaneurysm workup and management. We are also investigating whether a unifying diagnosis exists to explain both viral myocarditis and celiac artery pseudoaneurysm or if both conditions are sporadic occurrences.

Comparison of three different treatment methods for traumatic and Iatrogenic peripheral artery pseudoaneurysms

Objective

To compare the efficacy of open surgery (OS), endovascular interventions (EIs), and ultrasound‐guided thrombin injection (UGTI) for the treatment of peripheral arterial pseudoaneurysms (PAs).

Methods

From January 1, 2001, to February 10, 2021, 38 patients diagnosed with traumatic and iatrogenic PAs treated with OS, EI, and UGTI were retrospectively analyzed. There were 18 females and 20 males, with an age of 56.47 ± 14.08 years (range,17–87 years). Anesthesia modality, operation duration, blood transfusion, duration of hospital stay, primary and secondary success rates, and complication rate were used to evaluate the surgical outcomes.

Results

There were 11 cases under regional anesthesia and 4 under general anesthesia in OS group, 9 under regional anesthesia and 1 under general anesthesia in EI group, and no regional or general anesthesia was required in UGTI group. There was no significant differences between any two groups (χ² = 39.80, p < 0.05). The blood tranfusion amount (units) were 3.6 ± 6.0, 0.8 ± 2.5, 0.0 ± 0.0 for OS, EI, and UGTI groups, respectively, with significant difference between OS and UGTI groups (F = 3.03, p < 0.05). The operation duration (minutes) of OS, EI, and UGTI groups were 80.0 ± 41.9, 56.0 ± 8.4, and 22.7 ± 5.3, respectively, with significant difference between any two groups (F = 15.69, p < 0.05). The duration of hospital stay (days) were 47.7 ± 39.0, 31.5 ± 17.6, and 16.3 ± 9.5, repectively, with significant difference between any two groups (F = 47.73, p < 0.05). The primary clinical success rates were 80% (12/15), 90% (9/10), and 92.3% (12/13) in OS,EI, and UGTI groups, respectively, with no significant difference between any two groups (χ² = 0.34, p > 0.05). The secondary clinical success rates were 100% for all three groups. The overall complication rates of OS, EI, and UGTI groups were 20% (3/15), 10% (1/10), and 7.7% (1/13), respectively, with no significant difference between any two groups (χ² = 1.00, p > 0.05). The infection rates were 13.3% (2/15), 10% (1/10), and 0% (0/13) in OS, EI, and UGTI groups respectively, with no significant difference between any two groups (χ² = 1.80, p > 0.05). The reintervention rates were 6.7% (1/15), 0% (0/10), 7.7% (1/13) in OS, EI, and UGTI groups, respectively, with no significant difference between two groups (χ² = 0.95, p > 0.05). Neuralgia was relieved in all patients.

Conclusions

OS, EI, and UGTI are efficacious and safe options for the treatment of appropriate patients with traumatic and iatrogenic PAs. UGTI would be considered as a first‐line therapy for this condotion.

A Case of Puncture-Site Giant Pseudoaneurysm Following Recanalization Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Marked Growth and Rupture of a Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm

Objective

We report a case of the marked growth and rupture of a giant femoral artery pseudoaneurysm at the puncture site that developed after recanalization therapy for acute basilar artery occlusion.

Case Presentation

A 79-year-old woman developed acute ischemic stroke due to atherosclerotic basilar artery occlusion. Endovascular intervention was performed and recanalization of the affected vessel was achieved. However, she developed brainstem infarction and consciousness disturbance persisted. The femoral access site was treated using a vascular closure device at the end of the procedure. A right femoral artery pseudoaneurysm of approximately 5 cm in size was found 2 weeks after onset during the examination for deep venous thrombosis with right lower extremity edema. Manual compression did not achieve thrombotic occlusion of the aneurysm due to obesity and leg edema. Considering the severe neurological status of the patient, the pseudoaneurysm was followed up without surgical treatment. Dual antiplatelet therapy and direct oral anticoagulant agents were administered. Four weeks after onset, the pseudoaneurysm presented rapid growth, and on the 35th day after onset, it exceeded 15 cm in size and ruptured, causing hemorrhagic shock with massive femoral hematoma. Pseudoaneurysm resection and hematoma removal were performed surgically, and the patient recovered. However, improvement of neurological manifestations was poor and the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days after onset was 5.

Conclusion

A case of giant femoral artery pseudoaneurysm following recanalization therapy for acute ischemic stroke was reported. Pseudoaneurysms at the puncture site can rupture after significant growth. Curative treatment is required without delay.

Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of Anterior Tibial Artery Treated by Thrombin Injection

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of limb arteries are relatively rare. A 70-year-old gentleman, with history of mechanical aortic valve implantation on warfarin, presented to the emergency department with pain and swelling in the right leg. He had sustained blunt injury to the leg, a week prior to presentation. On examination, the lateral compartment of the leg was swollen, ecchymotic, and tense. Distal pulses were well palpable. An ultrasound Doppler evaluation revealed a large intramuscular hematoma in the lateral compartment with a pseudoaneurysm of a muscular branch of the anterior tibial artery. An ultrasound-guided compression of the pseudoaneurysm was initially attempted for 24 hours, which failed in closing off the pseudoaneurysm. He was subsequently taken up for thrombin injection into the pseudoaneurysm, which resulted in instant thrombosis of the pseudoaneurysm, with an uneventful clinical course thereafter. Thrombin injection is an effective and safe modality to treat pseudoaneurysms of limb arteries.