Giant pseudoaneurysm due to Dacron graft degeneration: A case report

Abstract

Knitted Dacron grafts are often preferred as they are easy to process, soft, and flexible; they also tend to expand due to their high porosity. Bleeding and pseudoaneurysm formation at the anastomotic site are common complications of vascular surgery, but nonanastomotic bleeding due to degeneration of Dacron graft's textile structure is rare. Here, we present a 70-year-old male diagnosed with a giant pseudoaneurysm that continues from the femoral artery to the popliteal artery formed due to the degeneration of the previous seven-year-old prosthetic graft. The pseudoaneurysm continued to be the source of arterial flow with its capsule, and the arterial flow into it was able to provide blood supply to the lower extremity without causing ischemia. The patient underwent surgery to excise the giant pseudoaneurysm and create a new bypass between the femoral and popliteal arteries. Today, the durability of prostheses is becoming increasingly important, and modifications in the manufacturing process have made Dacron grafts more resistant to cyclic pulsatile stretching and facilitated the adaptation of the prosthetic material to the host tissue. Despite all the remarkable innovations over the last 50 years, complications of prosthetic grafts can result in fatal bleeding. This situation emphasizes the importance of close follow-up and detailed clinical and radiological evaluation of patients.