title: Pseudoaneurysm of the brachial artery in a four-month-old boy: diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: Pseudoaneurysms arise from a disruption in the arterial wall and blood dissecting into the tissues around the damaged artery creating a perfused sac that communicates with the arterial lumen. Trauma to the wall of the artery may lead to the development of a pseudoaneurysm. Post-traumatic pseudoaneurysm development is very rare in the peripheral artery and often is a consequence of venipuncture. We have reported the case of the four-month-old boy who developed a pseudoaneurysm following an accidental arterial puncture. In the antecubital area we noticed a pulsative mass and palpable thrill. The patient underwent a Doppler ultrasound examination and CT with contrast. Surgery was indicated. Following excision of the pseudoaneurysm, an end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Follow-up for four years revealed palpable peripheral pulsation at the wrist level. In the postoperative period, all ultrasound findings were normal. End-to-end anastomosis is preferable if it can be performed without tension or damage to the major collateral vessels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Clinical Hospital, Zagreb, Klaićeva 16, Croatia. mirko.ganjer@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Žganjer
authors.forename: Vlasta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Žganjer
authors.forename: Irenej
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cigit
authors.forename: Ante
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Čizmić
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler