Femoral pseudoaneurysm in drug addicts--excision without revascularization is a viable option.
OBJECTIVE
To present a series of patients presenting with femoral pseudoaneurysm.


RESULTS
Seventeen patients who presented with a femoral pseudoaneurysm during a 1 year period were included in this study. Parenteral drug abuse was the most common aetiological factor. The femoral artery was most commonly involved at its bifurcation. Sixteen patients (94%) had excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessel and debridement without any revascularization and one patient (6%) had reverse saphenous grafting after excision and ligation of vessels. Four amputations (23%) were performed. Three (17%) were major limb amputations, which included one above knee and two below knee amputations. Four patients (23%) developed intermittent claudication.


CONCLUSIONS
Excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessels and wide debridement without immediate revascularization in infected pseudoaneurysms is a safe and effective treatment.
Naqi
S A
SA
Department of Surgery, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
Khan
H M
HM
Akhtar
S
S
Shah
T A
TA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003646:Debridement; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000209:etiology; D007866:Leg; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000637:transplantation; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014034:Toes; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures