[Post-interventional pseudoaneurysm: technique, status and indications of color Doppler-controlled compression...

In a prospective 6-year study including 155 pts. with false aneurysm (FA) after peripheral interventions, treatment by color doppler-guided compression (CDGC) was evaluated. Diagnosis and treatment were performed 1-42h (mean. 21.5 h) after intervention, using 7.5 MHz transducers. The technique was to apply pressure on the tract connecting FA and artery, to occlude it until thrombosis would induce FA closure. The treatment was successful in 152/155 cases (98.1%), requiring compression for 7 to 65 min. (mean: 28.8 min.). In 3/155 pts. (1.9%) under coumarin therapy (INR > 3.0) a second treatment was necessary (INR < 2.3) to obtain FA closure. The treatment was well tolerated, only 42/155 pts. (27.1%) needed analgetics. During CDGC, in 19 cases (5.9%) vagal reactions were observed, furthermore 2 FA ruptures (1.3%, without sequelae). 2 cases developed a FA relapse (1.3%), both could be permanently closed by a second CDGC. In conclusion, under the condition of early diagnosis CDGC is a rapid, very effective, safe and non-invasive method to treat postinterventional FA. Conservative, interventional or surgical treatment is limited to few cases when CDGC is not feasible (infection, compression syndrome), or not successful.