Gunshot-related giant brachial artery pseudoaneurysm: Case report

Abstract

Pseudoaneurysms are late and rare complications in the upper limbs due to penetrating vascular trauma. Although endovascular management is offered as the ideal approach, there are some anatomical conditions to consider surgical treatment. An 18-year-old patient was admitted into our hospital two months later after suffering a single gunshot on the left arm. The arteriography showed loss of most of the branchial artery (BA) course, which was replaced by an unusual 14 ∗ 10 cm pseudoaneurysm. The increasing deformity within the anterior compartment of the arm generated neuropathic and ischemic symptoms (NIS) that were resolved after the drainage and reconstruction of BA. An autologous, ipsilateral basilic vein (BV) graft was used for this purpose. After 26 months, the normal hemodynamic conditions of the treated limb allowed the patient to remain asymptomatic.

Keywords

• Pseudoaneurysm
• Branchial artery
• Basilic vein
• Vascular injury
• Gunshot wound