Repair of a thrombosed pseudoaneurysm that developed after puncture for an arterial blood gas using a vein graf

Abstract

Pseudoaneurysms involving the leakage of blood between the arterial wall and the peripheral parenchyma can occur as a result of an artery’s perforation. In this case report, we present a repair, using a vein graft, of a thrombosed pseudoa- neurysm that developed in a radial artery after a single puncture to obtain a sample for the determination of arterial blood gases. A 56-year-old female patient was admitted with a mass in her left wrist on the radial side. Upon examination, a sen- sitive and mobile mass was detected by palpation. The patient had no fever or any other symptoms of inflammation. Her detailed anamnesis revealed that the mass had developed after a puncture to obtain a blood sample for an arterial blood gas measurement. By using magnetic resonance imaging the mass was determined to be a thrombosed pseudoaneurysm. The mass was excised and the gap that had developed in the radial artery was repaired with a vein graft obtained from the forearm. Magnetic resonance angiography imaging after 1 month confirmed the vein graft’s patency. Cannulations for blood monitoring, blood gas analysis and interventional radiological procedures are indispensable processes used in medicine; however, they are not risk-free. Following these procedures, thromboses and pseudoaneurysms can develop. A number of treatment options exist, including bandaging, percutaneous thrombin injections, and surgical treatment for complicated cases. For pseudoaneurysms that create a mass effect, as in our case, surgery is needed. Such complications after interventional procedures involving the radial artery should be kept in mind.