Background: Of all upper extremity emboli, up to twenty percent arise from
an arterial, not a cardiac source. Method: We report about a patient with r
ecurrent embolism, caused by an axillary crutch-induced aneurysm of the axi
llary artery. Result: After revascularisation by embolectomy and axillo-bra
chial vein graft bypass, the patient was free of symptoms. Conclusion: Angi
ography and duplex scanning were necessary for the correct diagnosis.