M Ben Hammamia1, M Fourati2, J Ziadi1, F Ghedira1, M Ben Mrad1, R Denguir1. 1. Service de chirurgie cardio-vasculaire et thoracique, faculté de médecine de Tunis, CHU La Rabta, Bab-Saadoun, 1006 Tunis, Tunisie. 2. Service de chirurgie cardio-vasculaire et thoracique, faculté de médecine de Tunis, CHU La Rabta, Bab-Saadoun, 1006 Tunis, Tunisie. Electronic address: fourati_malek@hotmail.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the therapeutic management of false aneurysms of the femoral artery in drug addicts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the cases of four drug addicts with pseudoaneurysms of the femoral artery. RESULTS: All patients were male with a mean age of 36 years. Emergency surgical treatment involved removal of the pseudoaneurysm followed by a venous graft (n=3) or patch (n=1). The post-operative period was uneventful for three patients. One patient required early revision with a second venous bypass after bleeding from the first then later a second revision for resection of infected tissue and sartorius muscle plasty to cover the groin area. Late outcome was favorable for all patients after an average 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: No consensus has been reached concerning the appropriate treatment for false aneurysms of the femoral artery in drug addicts. Analyses of larger series with longer follow-ups are needed to elucidate the best emergency surgical methods capable of reducing the risk of rupture.
PURPOSE: To describe the therapeutic management of false aneurysms of the femoral artery in drug addicts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the cases of four drug addicts with pseudoaneurysms of the femoral artery. RESULTS: All patients were male with a mean age of 36 years. Emergency surgical treatment involved removal of the pseudoaneurysm followed by a venous graft (n=3) or patch (n=1). The post-operative period was uneventful for three patients. One patient required early revision with a second venous bypass after bleeding from the first then later a second revision for resection of infected tissue and sartorius muscle plasty to cover the groin area. Late outcome was favorable for all patients after an average 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: No consensus has been reached concerning the appropriate treatment for false aneurysms of the femoral artery in drug addicts. Analyses of larger series with longer follow-ups are needed to elucidate the best emergency surgical methods capable of reducing the risk of rupture.