Pseudoaneurysm of the posterior tibial artery as an early complication after fogarty catheter thrombectomy

Abstract

After angioplasty of the superficial femoral artery at Hunter's canal in a 65-year-old woman thrombosis developed and femoropopliteal bypass grafting was necessary. Four weeks later the graft occluded, successful thrombectomy was performed with a Fogarty catheter and the patient heparinised. Three days later a pseudoaneurysm developed on the posterior tibial artery which was excised and the artery which was longitudinally torn repaired with a vein graft giving good functional results. Complications after Fogarty balloon catheter thrombectomy are relatively rare but Pseudoaneurysms can occur after perforation or rupture of smaller vessels.