Treatment of post-catheterization femoral artery pseudo-aneurysm with para-aneurysmal saline injection

Compare efficacy and safety of autologous blood clot injection with C-clamp vascular closure device in treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm after femoral artery puncture

INTRODUCTION

Iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (FAP) is a complication following femoral artery puncture, with an incidence rate of 0.2%-5.5% post-cardiac catheterization procedures. Management typically involves observation or interventional treatments such as ultrasound-guided compression (UGC) or ultrasound-guided thrombin injections. This study compares the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided autologous blood clot injection (UGCI) with C-clamp vascular closure device-assisted UGC in treating FAP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Conducted at a high-volume training and research center, this prospective study enrolled patients with iatrogenic FAP post-femoral artery puncture. Patients were randomized into two treatments: UGC with a C-clamp device or UGCI. Primary endpoints were thrombosis induction within 24 h, average procedure time, and length of hospital stay (LOS).

RESULTS

The study included 105 patients with 51 undergoing UGCI and 54 undergoing UGC. UGCI achieved a primary success rate of 96% versus 63% for UGC. The mean procedure duration for UGCI was significantly shorter (22 min) compared with UGC (49 min, p ⩽ 0.0001). LOS was also reduced in the UGCI group (1.5 days) compared to the UGC group (4.5 days). Complication rates were low for both procedures, with one deep vein thrombosis and one infection observed in the UGC group.

CONCLUSION

UGCI demonstrated to be a safe, efficient, and faster alternative for treating iatrogenic FAPs with a higher success rate, reduced LOS, and similar low complication rates compared to UGC. This study suggests that UGCI could be considered a preferred method for the management of FAP post-femoral artery catheterization.

Treating Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm by Tumescence Anesthesia and Echo-Guided Compression Technique (TACT): Clinical Outcome in 82 Consecutive Patients

PURPOSE

Pseudoaneurysm (PA) of the access artery is a common and potentially severe complication after percutaneous endovascular interventions. Most PA require interventional therapy, including thrombin injection, covered stent implantation, or surgical repair, which are costly and associated with other complications. Treating PA by external compression is uncomfortable and time consuming, with a low success rate. By injecting local tumescence anesthesia around the PA and close to its neck, the tumescence anesthesia and echo-guided compression technique (TACT) aims to improve efficacy and patient's comfort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients treated for femoral PA in our center from May 2009 to July 2019 and estimated efficacy and safety. Vascular specialists performed TACT according to a standardized protocol including ultrasound-guided injection of tumescence solution (45 ml of 0.9% saline, 15 ml of lidocaine 1%/epinephrine 5 μg/ml) in the soft tissue around the PA and its neck, local compression with the sonography probe until PA closure, and external compression by elastic belt for 3 hours.

RESULTS

Among a total of 125 patients with femoral artery PA, 82 (65.6%) were treated by TACT (including 3 patients with haemorrhagic shock), 14 (11.2%) by thrombin injection; 12 (9.6%) by endovascular interventions; 8 (6.4%) by open surgery; and 9 (7.2%) conservatively. In patients treated by TACT, PA neck was short (<1 cm) in 51.8% and mean cavity diameter 30 ± 23 mm. After injection of 58 ± 8 ml of tumescence solution, mean time of echo-guided compression was 12 ± 8 minutes. Pseudoaneurysm was successfully closed in 92.7% after the first attempt and in 96.3% after the second attempt. The intervention was well tolerated, without any adverse event.

CONCLUSION

Tumescence anesthesia and echo-guided compression technique (TACT) is an effective and safe treatment for PA. Compared to other therapies, TACT is minimally invasive and widely available for minimal costs, even for large PA and in unstable patients.

CLINICAL IMPACT

Tumescence anesthesia and echo-guided compression technique seems to be an efficient, safe, and a fair economical choice in comparison with alternative techniques. The implementation of this procedure is simple with low risk of complications. Based on the results of this study, we believe that TACT should be considered as the first-line treatment of most iatrogenic PA.

The Role of Anticoagulants and Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors in the Treatment of Pseudoaneurysms and Risk of Venous Thrombosis

Pseudoaneurysms (PSA) are one of the most common complications after arterial punctures. This retrospective study examined whether platelet aggregation inhibitors (APT) or anticoagulants (AC) lower the success rates of PSA treatment. A total of 468 patients with PSA were retrospectively analyzed between 2010 and 2018, and 238 were included in the study. Despite co-medication with APT or AC, thrombin injection (TI) was superior to compression bandage (CB) therapy in treating PSA (TIwAC 79 vs CBwAC 51%; P = .004 and TIwAPT 93 vs CBwAPT 54%; P = .001). There was no decrease in PSA-associated thrombosis in patients requiring anticoagulation after TI. The success rates of the TI and CB groups were compared in patients with and without AC therapy, and the latter was significantly lower. A reduced success rate was not observed in CB therapy patients requiring APT. In contrast, better results were seen in the TI group. Regarding PSA treatment, TI therapy is significantly superior to CB, including in patients requiring concomitant AC or APT therapy. PSA-associated thrombosis also occurs in patients requiring anticoagulation, and sonography should be performed. Concomitant medication use with APT does not significantly influence PSA therapy success or prevention of PSA-associated thrombosis.

High incidence of deep vein thrombosis during the treatment of pseudoaneurysms - a retrospective nonrandomized study

Background: Pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) are concerning complications after arterial invasive interventions. Therapeutic options include manual ultrasound-assisted compression, pressure dressings, surgical intervention and thrombin injection. Compression of neighboring veins is obvious. However, the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with PSA has not previously been investigated. Patients and methods: In this retrospective, nonrandomized study 238 patients with PSA were analyzed from 2013 to 2018. In 149 patients, all of the parameters were complete for participating. PSAs were treated according to the local standard therapy with either ultrasound-guided compression followed by compression bandage or thrombin injection. Treatment success was evaluated 24 hours later, and the venous system was examined for the presence of DVT. Results: Peripheral DVT was found in 25.4% patients after ultrasound-assisted compression and subsequent pressure bandages, but only 6.4% of patients had DVT after thrombin injection (p = 0.013). Lower leg veins, particularly veins of the crural muscles, were primarily affected. Significantly more PSAs were successfully treated without the occurrence of DVT in the thrombin injection group compared to the compression group (93.6 vs. 69.0%; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our study revealed that the use of thrombin injections resulted in a significantly lower rate of postinterventional DVT and a higher total number of successfully treated PSAs compared to compression therapy.

Delayed severe median nerve palsy due to undiagnosed brachial pseudoaneurysm

Post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms are a well-known complication of many endovascular procedures at the site of arterial puncture. However, long-term neurological complications due to undiagnosed compression are rare. A 60-year-old man presented to our unit for round, non-pulsatile, painless swelling in the inner side of his upper arm. Clinical examination showed finger paralysis, associated with amyotrophy of the forearm. Large brachial pseudoaneurysm with median nerve compression was diagnosed. The patient underwent autologous vein bypass, with poor 6-month neurological recovery. Early diagnosis of pseudoaneurysms is paramount because, when associated with nerve compression, the longer the diagnostic delay, the poorer the neurological prognosis.

Das moderne befund- und patientenadaptierte Management von peripheren Pseudoaneurysmen nach arteriellem Zugang

Pseudoaneurysmen (PSA) zählen zusammen mit den Hämatomen zu den häufigsten Komplikationen nach kathetergestützten Eingriffen.

Ziel und Methode Die narrative kompakte Kurzübersicht umreißt sowohl die Entstehung und Charakteristika von Pseudoaneurysmen sowie die Optionen der Diagnostik und Therapie als auch deren mögliche Komplikationen.

Ergebnisse Ätiopathogenese: Durch den nicht verschlossenen Stichkanal der Punktion kommt es zum kontinuierlichen Blutausstrom aus dem Gefäß, der im umliegenden Gewebe eine Pseudoaneurysmahöhle formt. Diese wird nicht wie beim wahren Aneurysma durch eine Gefäßwand begrenzt, sondern nur durch die umliegenden Gewebestrukturen eingedämmt. Dies ist aber meist nicht suffizient und es kommt zu einer raschen Ausbreitung und diffusen Einblutungen. Dadurch können umliegende Strukturen wie Nerven und Venen durch das expandierende Pseudoaneurysma komprimiert werden, woraus sich irreversible Schäden entwickeln können. Diagnostik: Die Duplexsonografie steht dominierend absolut im Vordergrund. Die CT-A, MR-A und DSA bleiben speziellen Fragestellungen oder klinischen Fallkonstellationen (z. B. Begleiterkrankungen etc.) vorbehalten – eine DSA ist stets mit Interventionsbereitschaft zu verbinden. Therapie: Mit der manuellen Kompression und der darauffolgenden Anlage eines Druckverbandes, einer ultraschallgestützten Kompression, der Thrombininjektion und der operativen Sanierung stehen mehrere Verfahren zur Auswahl. Die ultraschallgestützte Kompression sollte dabei immer sofort eingesetzt werden, da sie höchst effizient und ubiquitär verfügbar ist. Additiv zur Kompression kann die Thrombininjektion bei PSA ohne Nerven-/Gewebeirritation mit eingesetzt werden und bietet noch bessere Verschlussraten, ist jedoch anspruchsvoller in der Anwendung. Die operative Ausschaltung ist die effektivste Methode, bietet aber neben dem größten Aufwand die meisten Begleitkomplikationen wie Wundheilungsstörung bei mazeriertem Gewebe und den längsten Krankenhausaufenthalt. Alternative Verfahren zu den genannten haben sich bisher nicht durchsetzen können.

Schlussfolgerung Das diagnostische und therapeutische Management von Pseudoaneurysmen stellt eine Herausforderung im interdisziplinären befund- und patientenadaptierten Vorgehen dar, das den erfahren Gefäßmediziner erfordert.

Pseudoaneurysm

Pseudoaneurysms (PSAs) are commonly known as complications associated with invasive interventions. Because of the pulsatile in- and outflow of blood through the neck of PSAs, they tend to grow and, in the worse cases, can rupture. Therapeutic options are compression therapy, using a compression bandage and ultrasound-guided compression, and thrombin injection. Manual ultrasound-guided compression is widely performed and is successful in most cases. In general, it is combined with a subsequently applied compression bandage. Thrombin injection is a more difficult technique, but it has a higher success rate. This article gives an overview of the characteristics of PSAs, their diagnostic characteristics and the therapeutic methods used to treat them. Complications associated with compression or thrombin injection are also explained in detail.

Do not underestimate the femoral pseudoaneurysm

Abstract. In addition to haematoma and arteriovenous fistula, the iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm is a common complication of vascular access that is caused by a perforation in the arterial wall. Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms can progress in size and lead to rupture and active bleeding. Over the previous few decades, therapeutic methods have evolved from surgical repair to less invasive options, such as ultrasound-guided compression therapy (UGCT) and ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI). This paper presents an overview of the diagnostic and treatment modalities used in femoral pseudoaneurysms as well as a comprehensive summary of previous studies that analysed the success and complication rates of UGCT and UGTI.

Novel Technique to Treat Common Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm using Angio-Seal Closure Device

Iatrogenic common femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a well-described vascular access complication. Several methods have been proposed to treat these pseudoaneurysms. In this report, we present three cases of successful pseudoaneurysm closure using a novel method of retrograde pseudoaneurysm access and thrombosis with Angio-Seal (St Jude Medical, St Paul, MN) closure device. This technique appears safe, effective, and reduces patient discomfort.

Percutaneous instillation of physiological saline solution for the treatment of femoral pseudoaneuryms

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of para-aneurysmal saline injection for closure of postcatheterization pseudo-aneurysm (PA) at the vascular access site.

METHODS

Fifty-one consecutive patients with postcatheterization PA at the vascular access site were included to undergo percutaneous para-aneurysmal saline injection. In case of technical failure the day after, PA were treated by bovine thrombin injection. Anatomical properties of the PA were recorded as were details to injection.

RESULTS

Initially all patients exhibited success which was reduced to 43 % at day one. A saline volume of median 7 ml (interquartile range 6-8 ml) has been injected. The amount of injected saline was not different in patients with and without treatment success at day one (P = 0.6). Several anatomical properties of the PA exhibited marked differences in patients with or without success. The length (10.3 mm (7.8-12.0) vs. 12.5 mm (10.3-15.0); P = 0.009) and the angulation (110° (100-118) vs. 140° (129-146); P < 0.001) of the fistula/vessel axis was statistically different between groups. The peak systolic velocity failed to show significance with a tendency to higher values in the ineffective study group (P = 0.07). No peripheral complications occurred.

CONCLUSION

Para-aneurysmal saline injection may be a therapeutic alternative to percutaneous thrombin injection in patients exhibiting favorable anatomical properties.

Iatrogenic Superficial External Pudendal Artery Pseudoaneurysm: Treatment with Doppler US-Guided Compression

Pseudoaneurysms rarely occur as a serious complication following incomplete hemostasis of an arterial puncture site. As a result of the increase in diagnostic and therapeutic angiography, the frequency of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm has increased as well. Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms associated with angiographic catheterization occur most commonly in the common femoral artery. Here we report a case of iatrogenic superficial external pudendal artery (SEPA) pseudoaneurysm following cardiac catheterization, which was diagnosed with Doppler ultrasound (US) and multidetector computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA) before Doppler US-guided compression therapy. To the best of our knowledge, iatrogenic SEPA pseudoaneurysm, which is an unusual vessel location for pseudoaneurysm occurrence, has not been reported in the literature. In patients in whom anticoagulant-thrombolytic therapy or therapeutic catheterization with larger sized sheath is planned, determination of the precise localization of arterial puncture site is important for the prevention of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm development. Arterial puncture guided with Doppler US might reduce complications. When suspected, MDCTA is useful in the diagnosis and demonstration of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms. Treatment of US-guided compression should be the first choice for iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms. Interventional radiologists and cardiologists should have enough experience about the catheterization complications and their treatment in order to decrease the morbidity and mortality related to the intervention.

Comparison between ultrasound-guided compression and para-aneurysmal saline injection in the treatment of postcatheterization femoral artery pseudoaneurysms

Management of postcatheterization femoral artery pseudoaneurysm (FAP) is problematic. Ultrasound-guided compression (UGC) is painful and cumbersome. Thrombin injection is costly and may cause thromboembolism. Ultrasound-guided para-aneurysmal saline injection (PASI) has been described but was never compared against other treatment methods of FAP. We aimed at comparing the success rate and complications of PASI versus UGC. We randomly assigned 80 patients with postcatheterization FAPs to either UGC (40 patients) or PASI (40 patients). We compared the 2 procedures regarding successful obliteration of the FAP, incidence of vasovagal attacks, procedure time, discontinuation of antiplatelet and/or anticoagulants, and the Doppler waveform in the ipsilateral pedal arteries at the end of the procedure. There was no significant difference between patients in both groups regarding clinical and vascular duplex data. The mean durations of UGC and PASI procedures were 58.14 ± 28.45 and 30.33 ± 8.56 minutes, respectively (p = 0.045). Vasovagal attacks were reported in 10 (25%) and 2 patients (5%) treated with UGC and PASI, respectively (p = 0.05). All patients in both groups had triphasic Doppler waveform in the infrapopliteal arteries before and after the procedure. The primary and final success rates were 75%, 92.5%, 87.5%, and 95% for UGC and PASI, respectively (p = 0.43). In successfully treated patients, there was no reperfusion of the FAP in the follow-up studies (days 1 and 7) in both groups. In conclusion, ultrasound-guided PASI is an effective method for the treatment of FAP. Compared with UGC, PASI is faster, less likely to cause vasovagal reactions, and can be more convenient to patients and physicians.

Recalcitrant peroneal artery pseudoaneurysm in a patient with Hemophilia B

Pseudoaneurysms (PAs) of arteries in the lower extremities are uncommon. In most cases, a PA of the common femoral artery develops following percutaneous access and treatment with ultrasound guided thrombin injection achieves success rates approaching 98%. In contrast, the management of a PA of the distal leg vessels is more complex and may require additional endovascular and/or surgical treatments. We present a case of a recalcitrant PA involving the distal peroneal artery that developed following blunt trauma in a patient with Hemophilia B who failed ultrasound guided thrombin injection, para-aneurysmal saline injection and required two coil embolization procedures. Our observations suggest that Factor IX supplementation combined with aggressive coil embolization is the most effective treatment approach.

Vascular access complications: diagnosis and management

OPINION STATEMENT

The incidence of vascular access site related complications ranges between 0.8 % to 1.8 % of diagnostic cardiac catheterization and up to 9 % of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) [1]. The femoral vessels at the groin are used as the access site for the majority of percutaneous coronary, peripheral arterial and venous, and electrophysiologic interventions. With emergence of endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR), and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), larger access sheaths (up to 18Fr-24Fr) are required, which further increases the potential for access site complications. The true incidence of access site complications arising from non-coronary interventions is unknown; hence it is likely that the total incidence of vascular access site complications is greatly underestimated. Vascular closure devices (VCDs), radial artery access, fluoroscopic guidance, and ultrasound guidance have all been used with a hope to minimize these complications. Despite these attempts, vascular access complications have not been eliminated. Cardiovascular specialists must promptly identify these complications and manage them appropriately.

Percutaneous fluoroscopically guided n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) injection for iatrogenic femoral arterial pseudoaneurysm under temporary balloon occlusion of arterial blood flow

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of n-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) injection under fluoroscopy for iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms under temporary balloon occlusion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This treatment was approved by the Ethics Committee of our institute, and informed consent was obtained from the patients. Three male patients aged 82, 77, and 51 years developed femoral arterial pseudoaneurysms after catheterization. The pseudoaneurysms (diameter: 30, 12, and 15 mm; neck diameter: 1.8, 5.2, and 1.4 mm) were treated with percutaneous NBCA injection under fluoroscopy after failed ultrasound (US)-guided compression. First, a 4-Fr balloon catheter was inserted into the responsible femoral artery via the contralateral approach. An 18-gauge needle was placed in the pseudoaneurysm under US guidance, and a test injection of contrast medium was performed under fluoroscopic guidance to evaluate the extent of the pseudoaneurysm. NBCA-lipiodol (Lp) (ratio, 1:3) was then injected under balloon inflation. The balloon catheter was deflated and withdrawn after treatment.

RESULTS

The total volume of the injected NBCA-Lp was 0.4-1.5 ml. In each case, angiography immediately after NBCA-Lp injection showed eradication of the pseudoaneurysm, and color Doppler US revealed no blood flow signal. No complications were observed. Color Doppler US showed no recurrence in the three patients at their last follow-ups at 6, 12, and 12 months.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous NBCA injection under fluoroscopy with the support of balloon inflation was safe, feasible, and useful for eradicating iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms in three cases following failed US compression.