A new interventional procedure in the treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm.

PURPOSE: The incidence of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms as a complication of angiographic procedures is increasing. The purpose of this study was to test the validity and the efficacy of a new interventional procedure in the treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between April 1999 and June 2000, 14 patients suffering from a iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm were treated with the new technique which consists of the direct puncture of the aneurysmal cavity using the Seldinger technique and the introduction of a movable-core Teflon-coated guide wire into the hollow of the sac. Mild external compression with Femostop is then applied for no longer than 120 minutes. The puncture was also performed with colour-Doppler US guidance. RESULTS: We observed the complete healing of the pseudoaneurysms in all of the treated patients with no immediate complications or recurrence in the follow-up period. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The procedure applied to treat our group of patients proved valid, easy to perform and capable of producing satisfactory RESULTS: This new interventional method for treating iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms may be considered an effective alternative to surgery and US-guided compression and capable of achieving a quick recovery. The procedure is particularly suitable in those patients that may suffer discomfort or complications from the widely applied technique of sonographically-guided compression of pseudoaneurysms.