ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided thrombin injection versus ultrasound-guided compression repair in the management of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. METHODS: Between June 2006 and December 2015, a total of 29 consecutive patients (15 males, 14 females; mean age 54 years; range 26 to 81 years) with a femoral pseudoaneurysm treated by ultrasound-guided thrombin injection were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were compared with a historical group of 36 patients (21 males, 15 females; mean age 44 years; range 32 to 65 years) who underwent ultrasound-guided compression repair between February 1999 and May 2006. Medical records and vascular laboratory findings of all patients were reviewed. Successful treatment was defined as complete cessation of flow into the false lumen with preservation of flow in the femoral artery. RESULTS: The ultrasound-guided thrombin injection showed a success rate of 100%, whereas ultrasound-guided compression repair had a success rate of 80.5%, which was possibly affected by anticoagulant therapy, hypertension, and an aneurysm size of >6 cm. However, none of these factors did not affect the success of thrombin injections. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection is a highly successful, easy to perform, accepted, and well-tolerated method by patients. It is more effective compared to compression therapy in patients with hypertension, large aneurysms, and who are on anticoagulant therapy.