Branch ligatures and blood aspiration for post-traumatic superficial temporal artery pseudoaneurysm: surgical technique

Abstract

The aim of this study is to report a new minimally invasive technique of superficial temporal artery (STA) pseudoaneurysm treatment. Several surgical options have been employed to treat STA pseudoaneurysms. To address this rare condition, the employed techniques are ligation and excision of the aneurysm, endovascular coil embolization or percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection. Between techniques no significant differences are reported in terms of outcomes. The decision to adopt a technique depends on STA pseudoaneurysm morphology and surgeon preference. In the present report, STA pseudoaneurysm afferent and efferent branches were identified by ultrasound in a 92-year-old female. Under local anaesthesia, these branches were ligated through small skin incisions. STA pseudoaneurysm decompression was obtained by an 'over the needle aspiration'. A compressive dressing was left in space for 48 h.