Ultrasound-guided thrombin-gelatin injection is effective for the treatment of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms: initial results.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the technique of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous thrombin-gelatin injection for the treatment of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms (FAPs). BACKGROUND: FAPs are a possible complication from percutaneous angiographic procedures. US-guided thrombin injection is currently the preferential therapeutic option, limited by a low risk of potentially catastrophic femoral thrombosis; transluminal injection of collagen is another effective and safe option, although a more invasive one; surgical repair is associated with significant comorbidity. We hypothesized that US-guided combined thrombin and gelatin injection (UG-TGI) would also be effective while minimizing the risk of limb thrombosis. METHODS: Review of the results, complications and length of hospital admission after the injection into the FAP sac of combined human-origin thrombin and bovine-origin gelatin matrix (FloSeal(®), Baxter), under direct US-guidance. RESULTS: We treated 13 patients (mean age 64 ± 9.46 years, 38% male), who developed a FAP following a percutaneous procedure: isolated coronariography in five (38%); angioplasty in four (31%); other cardiac procedures in four (31%). Immediate success was obtained in all (100%) patients, assessed by US; no allergic reactions, local infection, or embolic events occurred on 30-day follow-up. Median (interquartile range) admission time after the UG-TGI was 2 days (1.25-2.0); median time of total admission was 8 days (6.5-16.25). CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, UG-TGI for the treatment of FAP was feasible and had short-term effectiveness, without a learning curve effect. Despite the need for further experience, a trial comparing different therapies for FAP should include this procedure.

[Concomitant syphilitic aneurysms of the thoracic and abdominal aorta. Case report]. / Aneurismas concomitants da aorta torácica e abdominal de etiologia sifilítica. Caso clinico.

The aneurismatic aortic disease is one of the most frequent conditions challenging the vascular surgeon. It can be caused by atherosclerosis, vasculitis, trauma, infection or others. The treatment, even when elective, can be associated to high rates of morbid-mortality, related to the etiology, anatomic location and type of treatment. The authors describe the case of a patient with concomitant syphilitic aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta, pararenal and aortic bifurcation. The diagnostic presumption was supported by clinical and epidemiology data (the patient was treated for a syphilitic saccular infrarenal aortic aneurysm 5 years before). The etiology was confirmed by the pathological studies of the surgical specimen.