[Formation, therapy and prevention of false aneurysm of the femoral artery following diagnostic and interventional heart catheterization].
OBJECTIVE
As pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery after catheter introduction is a frequent complication, its causes and therapeutic options were investigated in a large patient collective.


METHODS
In a prospective study with colour-Doppler duplex sonography of 6928 patients after diagnostic and of 3764 after interventional cardiac catheterisation, pseudoaneurysms were diagnosed in 80 patients (0.75%), 46 after diagnostic (0.66%) and 34 after interventional (0.9%) catheterisation.


RESULTS
The incidence was higher in women than men (1.33% vs 0.58%; P < 0.05). Anticoagulation after sheath removal was the leading risk factor (n = 55, 68.8%), especially after interventional coronary intervention 85.3 vs 56.5%, P < 0.05). Local compression under duplex sonography monitoring was undertaken in 69 patients (86.3%), achieving aneurysmal obliteration in 53 (76.8%). Spontaneous thrombosis occurred in 15 of the remaining 27 patients, and surgical closure became necessary in 12.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate a risk profile for the occurrence of pseudoaneurysm after cardiac catheterisation which can be dealt with by preventive measures. Local compression under duplex sonographic monitoring was the treatment of choice with a high success rate and low incidence of complications.
Rath
J
J
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik B, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf.
Marx
R
R
Ganschow
U S
US
Gradaus
F
F
Schoebel
F C
FC
Kelm
M
M
Hennersdorf
M
M
Köhler
M
M
Heintzen
M P
MP
Strauer
B E
BE
D000368:Aged; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color