Pseudoaneurysms of the femoral artery: recommendation for a method of repair.
OBJECTIVE
Formation of an anastomotic aneurysm in the femoral artery is one of the major complications after femoral artery surgery. The aim of this study was to assess the method of repair of femoral anastomotic aneurysms and their outcome in a District General Hospital.


METHODS
A retrospective consecutive cohort of anastomotic femoral aneurysms, operated between 1977 and 1998, were studied.


RESULTS
Twelve patients with a total of 19 pseudoaneurysms were treated. Five of the aneurysms were repaired using a vein patch and two had re-suturing of the anastomosis. Twelve aneurysms were repaired with complete revision of the anastomoses using interposition grafts. There were no recurrences in the interposition graft group whilst two recurred in the seven aneurysms repaired using re-suturing/vein patch.


CONCLUSIONS
Interposition grafting would appear to be the method of choice for repair of femoral pseudoaneurysms as the outcome was better than that with re-suturing or using a patch closure technique.
Sharma
N K
NK
Department of General Surgery, Royal Halifax Infirmary, UK.
Chin
K F
KF
Modgill
V K
VK
D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*