The greater saphneous vein used for reconstruction of iliac artery pseudoaneurysm

Abstract

Objective To evaluate arterial reconstruction of traumatic iliac-femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in parenteral drug abusers.Methods Data of 21 consecutive patients who presented with iliac-femoral artery pseudoaneurysm with the diameter ranging from 3.0 cm～7.5 cm secondary to parenteral drug abuse from 2004 to 2007 were analyzed.Fifteen patients were male and the median age was 3 1.3 years.the aneurysm involved the common femoral artery and distal external iliac artery.Autologous greater saphenous vein was used as a graft for arterial reconstruction after iliac-femoral artery pseudoaneurysm excision through a single curved inguinal incision.Results The surgical procedure was successful in all 21 eases without intraoperative mortality and severe complications.All the 21 patients were free of postoperative claudication symptoms except 1 case with preoperative popliteal artery stenosis.Wound infection and tissue fistula developed in one ease.Ingunal incisional hematoma and cutaneous abnormal sensation developed in one each eases.Conclusions The use of autologous greater saphenous venous grafts for aaefial reconstruction after false aneurysm excision in drug abusers is safe and effective.The harvest of the greater saphenous vein is precondition of this precedure.These preliminary results indicate that the implementation of this technique offers advantages compared with the artery ligation alone without revascularization,that is frequently associated with later intermittent claudication. Key words: Aneurysm,false; Vascular surgical procedures; Drug abuse; Greatersaphenous vein