Management of infected femoral pseudoaneurysms in intravenous drug abusers: a review of 57 cases.
BACKGROUND
The present study was carried out to evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical methods used for the management of infected femoral pseudoaneurysms secondary to illegal drug injections.


METHODS
Fifty seven consecutive patients who presented with infected pseudoaneurysm of the lower limb and were admitted to the emergency department of Sina Hospital during a 5-year period were enrolled in this study. Surgical methods performed consisted of vein angioplasty, simple ligation of femoral artery, and emergent or delayed revascularization.


RESULTS
All participating patients were males with a mean age of 36.7 years. Three (5.3%) and two (3.5%) patients underwent primary repair and emergent vascular bypass, respectively; whereas delayed revascularization was performed in only eight (14%) cases. Forty four (77.2%) patients achieved a normal lifestyle without any vascular bypass. Early critical ischemia and late claudication was reported in two (3.5%) and eight (14%) patients, respectively. Other complications such as amputation and mortality were rarely reported.


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, simple ligation of the external iliac or femoral artery was the most frequent management method for treating infected femoral pseudoaneurysms. Simple ligation of the external iliac or femoral artery seems to be a safe procedure in drug abusers presenting with infected femoral pseudoaneurysms.
Salimi
Javad
J
Subspecialties in Vascular Surgery, Sina Trauma and Surgery Research Center, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mjsalimi@sina.tums.ac.ir
Shojaeefar
Abulfazl
A
Khashayar
Patricia
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000785:Aneurysm, Infected / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D016896:Treatment Outcome