Complication during Endovascular Intervention: Acute Ischemia of the Lower Extremity as a Result of Spiral Dissection with Antegrade Puncture of the Left Common Femoral Artery

Abstract

Introduction. Over the past decade, endovascular interventions have become widely used in patients with obliterating atherosclerosis of lower extremity arteries. This is due to the low-trauma nature of the methodology, various technological achievements in the improvement of instruments and the accumulation of operational experience. However, despite all the successes achieved, no intervention is without its complications. In the case of endovascular interventions, complications are most commonly associated with the site of arterial access. One of the most widely-used arterial approaches is retrograde femoral access. However, if an intervention is planned on the femoropopliteal arterial segment, the antegrade femoral approach is generally the method of choice. Among the advantages of antegrade access can be noted the shorter path to the site, better toolkit support and a shorter operation duration. One of the main complications involved in antegrade access is the development of dissection. Although this complication occurs in less than 1% of cases, it carries a threat of critical ischemia of the lower limbs, which may require emergency open surgery up to and including emergency limb amputation.Materials and methods. The paper presents a clinical case of successful treatment of iatrogenic spiral dissection, which occurred following antegrade vascular access. During surgical treatment of this complication, stents were implanted throughout the dissection to “press” the exfoliated layer of the intima.Results. The study presents a case of iatrogenic spiral dissection after antegrade femoral puncture followed by successful endovascular treatment of this complication.Conclusion. Endovascular balloon angioplasty and stenting can be successfully used when iatrogenic dissection develops following antegrade puncture of the right femoral artery, allowing classic “open” surgical intervention to be avoided.