Accidental small bowel perforation after antegrade femoral artery access for percutaneous thromboembolectomy and angioplasty.
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.
Seyfarth
Tobias
T
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Swiss Cardiovascular Center, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
Baumgartner
Iris
I
Triller
Jürgen
J
Dinkel
Hans-Peter
HP
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