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[Post-traumatic aneurysm of humeral artery]
B San Vicente1, M Castañón, J Mulet
1Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica, Unidad Integrada Hospital Sant Joan de Déu-Clínic, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona.
Insights
Pediatric aneurysms, often caused by blunt trauma, can present as pulsatile masses. Surgical repair of traumatic humeral artery pseudoaneurysms in children offers successful outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Pediatric Traumatology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Aneurysms are rare in children, differing from adult cases primarily due to etiology.
- In pediatric populations, traumatic injury is a significant cause of arterial aneurysms, specifically pseudoaneurysms, resulting from blunt force disruption of the arterial wall.
Observation:
- Aneurysms in children are frequently asymptomatic or manifest as a palpable, pulsating mass along an artery.
- A case is presented involving a young female who developed a pulsatile mass in her right upper limb following blunt trauma.
- The mass was identified as an aneurysm of the humeral artery.
Findings:
- Diagnosis was confirmed using Doppler ultrasound and angiography, standard imaging modalities for vascular abnormalities.
- The humeral artery aneurysm was successfully treated through surgical resection.
- Arterial wall reconstruction was performed following aneurysm removal.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering traumatic etiology in pediatric arterial aneurysms.
- Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for managing traumatic pseudoaneurysms in children.
- Successful surgical management ensures restoration of arterial integrity and function, preventing long-term complications.
Abstract:
Aneurysms are uncommon in the pediatric age-group. Unlike adults, in which aneurysms appear after alteration of the arterial wall due to systemic diseases, in children the traumatic etiology has to be considered: blunt trauma may disrupt the arterial wall and cause false aneurysm (pseudoaneurysm). Most aneurysms are asymptomatic, or they present as a pulsatile mass on an arterial traject. Diagnosis is confirmed with Doppler ultrasound and angiography. We present the case of a girl who, after blunt trauma of the right upper limb developed a pulsatile mass on the traject of the right humeral artery. Doppler ultrasound and angiography confirmed aneurysm of the humeral artery. She was successfully treated with surgical resection of the aneurysm and reconstruction of the arterial wall.