POSTANGIOGR APHIC FEMORAL-ARTERY PSEUDOANEURYSMS - FURTHER EXPERIENCETHE US-GUIDED COMPRESSION REPAIR

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of ultrasound-guided compression repai r (UGCR) in postcatheterization femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. MATERI ALS AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-three patients with postcatheteriz ation femoral artery pseudoaneurysms were considered for UGCR. Patient s underwent compression with duplex and color Doppier ultrasound. Imme diate and longterm successes were evaluated. RESULTS: Seven patients w ere not candidates for UGCR. UGCR was technically possible in 117 of t he 126 patients who were candidates. UGCR was successful in 109 patien ts. The failure rate was significantly higher in patients who were rec eiving anticoagulant medication (P < .001). Pseudoaneurysm size, age, and structure (simple vs multiloculated) had no bearing on success or failure. The time required for successful compression was not related to treatment with anticoagulants but was related to pseudoaneurysm str ucture. Complications included one case of a distal embolus and two ep isodes of hypotension. CONCLUSION: UGCR is a simple and expedient meth od for the treatment of postcatheterization femoral artery pseudoaneur ysms.