COLOR-CODED DUPLEX DOPPLER SONOGRAPHY IN IATROGENIC PSEUDOANEURYSM INTHE GROIN

Pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery occurred in five patients (aged b etween 61 and 82 years) after catheterization of the artery, four time s after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the leg arteries and once after left-heart catheterization. The pseudoaneurysms were correc tly diagnosed by colour-coded duplex Doppler sonography by demonstrati ng turbulence within the aneurysm and a connection to the femoral arte ry with bidirectional shunting. Enough pressure was exerted with the i nstrument head to stop flow in the aneurysm and its connection to the artery without, however, significantly reducing arterial flow. After 3 0-35 min flow into the aneurysm had ceased even when the compression w as released. Re-examination up to 11 months later (mean of 7.6 months) indicated that the treatment had been successful in all.