Aneurysmal Degeneration of the Brachial Artery after Vascular Access Creation: Surgical Treatment Results

Brachial artery aneurysm after hemodialysis fistula ligation: Case reports and review of literature

INTRODUCTION

Brachial artery aneurysm (BAA) following long-standing arteriovenous fistula (AVF) ligation after renal transplantation is odd.

CASE PRESENTATION

Two cases of brachial artery aneurysm treated with bypass (a saphenous vein graft and a PTFE graft). In the first patient no complications were recorded whereas an infection was diagnosed after 6 months from the procedure in the second treatment.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Multiple factors activated by stress on the vessel wall followed by fistula ligation are the cause of vascular remodeling of the three layers making up the wall with possible evolution in aneurysmatic lesions. In literature the gold standard for this lesion is the surgical approach, only one endovascular procedure is reported. The traditional surgical approach uses the autologous vein or prosthetic PTFE grafts.

CONCLUSION

Brachial artery aneurysm is a complication that affects patients undergoing renal transplantation who have already undergone AVF ligation. In our experience autologous vein graft represented the best solution.

Thrombosis related to true axillo-brachial arterial aneurysm following ligation of longstanding arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis

A 52-year-old man who had received hemodialysis via a left radial-cephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for 18 years presented with severe ischemic symptoms in the left upper arm 12 years after occlusion of the AVF. Diagnostic imaging revealed thrombotic occlusion from a left axillary-brachial artery aneurysm, which required distal bypass surgery. The inflow artery of an AVF can develop aneurysmal degeneration, resulting in upper limb ischemia by embolization or decreased flow, especially with a ligated or occluded AVF or immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation. In such cases, the AVF should be monitored, even if ligated or occluded.

[Brachial artery aneurysm in kidney transplant patient after distal fistula closure]

Brachial artery aneurysmal degeneration is an exceptional complication of distal native fistulas. Chronic mechanical stresses due to high flow, as well as immunosuppressants drugs following renal transplantation, are the mains factors implicated in the pathophysiological mechanism. We report a case of a transplant patient with a true, symptomatic, brachial artery aneurysm, 8 years after transplantation and 5 years after radiocephalic wrist fistula ligation. The patient underwent open surgical repair, with aneurysm resection and end-to-end anastomosis. We present a literature review of the different therapeutic strategies of this unusual entity.

Axillary artery aneurysm associated with Arteriovenous malformations of the upper extremity: A case report

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Axillary artery aneurysms are an uncommon upper extremity pathology and Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are a rare cause.

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We present a case of congenital high-flow AVMs in the upper limb who presented with an asymptomatic axillary artery aneurysm.

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Our patient was asymptomatic, but surgery was indicated because of the size of the aneurysm.

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We used a vein graft instead of a synthetic graft because the aneurysm was located close to the shoulder joint.

Introduction and importance

Axillary artery aneurysms are an uncommon upper extremity pathology. While trauma is the most common cause, degenerative aneurysms may occur in high-flow vascular conditions, such as upper extremity arteriovenous fistulas. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are a rare cause.

Case presentation and discussion

We herein describe a 41-year-old male with multiple congenital high-flow AVMs in the left upper extremity who presented with an asymptomatic axillary artery aneurysm. The aneurysm was successfully treated with open resection and revascularization using a reversed basilic vein interposition graft.

Conclusion

Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of an axillary artery aneurysm in patients with upper extremity AVMs.

Giant Brachial Aneurysm after Arteriovenous Fistula Ligation: A Review of the Different Surgical Approaches

The aim of this paper is to describe the case of a patient successfully treated for left brachial arterial aneurysm occurring 15 years after renal transplantation and consequent 8 years after arteriovenous fistula (AVF) ligation. We describe our experience and our surgical approach. A 45-year-old man presented to our attention for a large pulsatile formation on the volatile face of the left forearm, which he reported to have enlarged in the last year. He had a history of chronic renal impairment in 2000, then AVF for dialysis was realized, and he was finally addressed to kidney transplantation in 2004. In 2011 the AVF was ligated. We observed absence of radial pulse and direct flow on the ulnar artery; a large pulsatile formation was evident along the course of the left brachial artery, associated with forearm venous dilatation. Doppler ultrasound showed fusiform aneurysm of the brachial artery with 3.5 cm diameter and longitudinal extension of 5 cm up to the brachial bifurcation. We removed the brachial aneurysm, with a venous bypass on the ulnar artery. The patient was discharged in good general condition on the second postoperative day. At 1- and 6-month follow-up he had complete recovery with graft patency, without any neurological impairment and with a good esthetic result. An open surgical repair with great saphenous vein interposition seems to be the best choice in terms of patency and perioperative morbidity.