PSEUDOANEURYSM AFTER FEMORAL-ARTERY CATHETERIZATION - DIAGNOSIS AND FOLLOW-UP USING DUPLEX ULTRASOUND

Pseudoaneurysm (PA) formation is one possible complication after intra-arterial catheterisation. Due to danger of rupture PA must be clearly differentiated from haematoma. PA is an arterially perfused cavity near the puncture site with direct communication with the femoral artery. Its clinical diagnosis is unreliable. We systematically reviewed 628 patients who had undergone femoral catheterisation (for angiography, PTA, local thrombolysis or aspiration) over a period of 1 year. Duplex scanning was performed within 1 to 3 days after puncture in the cases with the slightest suspicion of PA. In 7 patients (1,1%) PA could be confirmed (2 after angiography, 3 after PTA and 2 after local lysis). On the ultrasound B-mode image PA appears as a low or anechoic structure which can be precisely measured. With pulsed (colour) Doppler, flow can be detected within a PA, allowing easy differentiation from thrombosed PA or from haematoma. The velocity of the systolic inflow-jet as well as of the diastolic outflow can be determined. The velocity of the inflow-jet will usually be much higher than the blood flow velocity in the femoral artery. Duplex-scanning allows repeated non-invasive follow-up examinations for better determination of indications for surgery. Of the 7 diagnosed PA, 2 needed prompt operation (1 because of rupture, 1 because of intense local pain). One patient required operation during follow-up because of increase in size of PA. In the remaining 4 patients, spontaneous thrombosis was observed with repeated duplex examinations.