title: Accidental small bowel perforation after antegrade femoral artery access for percutaneous thromboembolectomy and angioplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a rare complication of antegrade femoral access for percutaneous aspiration thromboembolectomy and transluminal angioplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 73-year-old obese woman underwent antegrade femoral aspiration thromboembolectomy for lower limb arterial embolism. Fifteen hours later, she presented with acute abdomen and decreased hemoglobin. Computed tomography showed small bowel obstruction, incarcerated femoral hernia, and free peritoneal air and fluid suggesting bowel perforation. Emergent laparotomy revealed an incarcerated, perforated femoral bowel loop and 4-quadrant peritonitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Femoral hernia injury is an exceptional complication of vascular interventions. Knowledge of this potential hazard may help to avoid its occurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seyfarth
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Triller
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dinkel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013396:Suction / Q000009:adverse effects; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed