Surgical treatment of traumatic lower limb pseudoaneurysm

Abstract

【Abstract】Objective: To summarize our experience in surgical treatment of traumatic lower limb pseudoaneurysm. Methods: Twenty patients with traumatic lower limb pseudoaneurysm were surgically treated in our department from January 2007 to January 2012. The treatment protocols included interventional covered-stent placement (10 cases), spring coil embolization (2 cases), and surgical operation (8 cases). Surgical operations included pseudoaneurysm repair (2 cases), autologousvein transplantation (1 case), and artifi cial-vessel by pass graft (5 cases). Results: All the patients were successfully treated without aggravating lower limb ischemia. Pseudoaneurysm disappeared after treatment. A surgicaloperation is suitable to most pseudoaneurysms, but its damage is relatively obvious and usually leads to more bleeding. It also requires a longer operating time. Compared to a surgical operation, interventional therapy is less traumatic and patients usually have a quicker recovery (P<0.05). All patients were followed up once per month for 12-36 months by color Doppler ultrasound examination. There were no cases of pseudoaneurysm recurrence. Conclusion: Both surgical operation and interventional therapy are safe and effective in the treatment of pseudoaneurysm. Key words: Pseudoaneurysm; Lower extremity; Transplantation