Occlusion of postcatheterisation femoral pseudoaneurysms with percutaneous thrombin injection under ultrasound guidance

PURPOSE: The incidence of iatrogenic femoral artery pseudoaneurysms is reported to occur in 1-7% by of all percutaneous catheterisations. These pseudoaneurysms are traditionally treated by ultrasound-guided compression or surgical repair. We report our experience in sealing postcatheterization femoral pseudoaneurysms with percutaneous thrombin injection under colour-Doppler ultrasound guidance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since June 2000 we have consecutively treated 31 pseudoaneurysms in 30 patients, (14 males and 16 females, age range 45 to 81 years); in one patient the pseudoaneurysm was bilateral. All patients had a clinical diagnosis of postcatheterization femoral pseudoaneurysm, later confirmed by colour-Doppler ultrasonography. We injected a bovine thrombin solution percutaneously at a concentration of 1000 U/mL using 21-22 gauge needles under colour Doppler ultrasound guidance. All patients underwent clinical and colour-Doppler US examination before, during and 24 hours after the procedure and were followed up after 1 and 3 months. RESULTS: The primary success rate was 83.8%. Complete and persistent occlusion of the pseudoaneurysm was achieved in less than 20 seconds by administering an average dose of 880 U of thrombin (0.8 mL of solution). In 5 cases (16.1%) reperfusion of the pseudoaneurysm was observed within 24 hours. These patients underwent a repeat procedure. The final result was successful in 96.7% of patients (30 of 31 cases). No thromboembolic complication was observed. Only 22.5% of patients reported a heat sensation in the treated limb, which resolved spontaneously within minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The percutaneous injection of thrombin under ultrasound colour-Doppler guidance should be regarded as the first choice treatment for postcatheterization femoral pseudoaneurysms, owing to its simplicity, safety, effectiveness and inexpensiveness