Unusual pseudoaneurysms after catheterization: successful treatment by ultrasound-guided compression

Postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms occur mostly in the femoral artery. Two patients (both women, aged 67 and 59 years) undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) at our institution presented pseudoaneurysms in unusual locations, one in the brachial and one in the popliteal artery. Because of good experiences with ultrasound-guided compression repair (UGCR) in the femoral artery, we also successfully performed this noninvasive treatment on the two patients. Follow-up at 28 and 12 months, respectively, after the procedure, showed no instances of recurrence. As with the excellent results of UGCR in the femoral artery, we believe that this new modality is also the treatment of choice in iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms of the arm and popliteal arteries.