Femoral pseudoaneurysm in drug addicts--excision without revascularization is a viable option

To present a series of patients presenting with femoral pseudoaneurysm.

Seventeen patients who presented with a femoral pseudoaneurysm during a 1 year period were included in this study. Parenteral drug abuse was the most common aetiological factor. The femoral artery was most commonly involved at its bifurcation. Sixteen patients (94%) had excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessel and debridement without any revascularization and one patient (6%) had reverse saphenous grafting after excision and ligation of vessels. Four amputations (23%) were performed. Three (17%) were major limb amputations, which included one above knee and two below knee amputations. Four patients (23%) developed intermittent claudication.

Excision of the pseudoaneurysm with ligation of vessels and wide debridement without immediate revascularization in infected pseudoaneurysms is a safe and effective treatment.