[Aneurysma spurium of the femoral artery following heart catheterization: a prospective ultrasound study].

The incidence of femoral artery pseudoaneurysms (p.a.) complicating diagnostic catheter procedures is only reported in studies regarding clinical symptoms. Since the diagnosis of aneurysms can (provided the vessel is visible) easily be done by ultrasound we made a prospective investigation of patients following coronary angiography. The unmistakable picture of p.a. consists of a rounded sonolucent, synchronic to the heart-beat eccentric expanding structure near the femoral artery, which can be differentiated from the more echorich usually not clear confined surrounding hematoma. We found 16 p.a. (5.24%) in 305 investigated patients. The size varied from 1.5 x 1.5 to 4 x 3.5 cm. In eight cases thrombosis of the p.a. was seen in follow-up controls. Operation was performed in 8 cases. Four patients had no visible hematoma; pulsation was palpable in 10, a systolic murmur heard in 12 patients. An examination by color Doppler ultrasound was done in 11 patients. Intracavitary flow and systole-diastolic jet stream in the neck of the p.a. are typical findings. We conclude that the diagnosis of femoral artery p.a. can be done accurately by ultrasound. Its incidence in patients with diagnostic catheter procedures is higher than hitherto suspected. A mild course with spontaneous thrombosis is seen frequently. Color Doppler ultrasound is recommended as a complementary investigation. In most cases angiography seems to be unnecessary.