Factors associated with pseudoaneurysm development and necessity for reintervention: a single centre study

Abstract

Objective: Evaluate the factors associated with pseudoaneurysm development and morphology. Measure ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (UGTI) and surgical treatment outcomes for pseudoaneurysms, and the necessity for post-primary intervention (reintervention) Methods: Retrospective analysis of ultrasound scans and CT angiography of peripheral pseudoaneurysm interventions from February 2011 to April 2017. 99 patients (61.6% female) were identified; median age 72 years (range 12–89). Multivariate analysis of patient demographics, including pre-intervention anticoagulant and antiplatelet medication was performed. Results: Primary intervention for peripheral pseudoaneurysms (62.6% common femoral artery) included 93 UGTI and 6 surgical repairs; with 12 reinterventions (9 UGTI and 3 surgical). Pseudoaneurysm incidence for vascular interventional radiology (VIR) was 0.48% (31/6451) and cardiology was 0.24% (60/25,229). Rates for primary success, immediate complications, 30-day mortality and reintervention were measured respectively for UGTI (98.9%, 3.0%, 2.0%, and 11.8%) and surgical repair (100%, 0.0%, 22.2% and 16.7%). Reintervention risk factors included pre-intervention thrombocytopaenia (<150 × 109/L) ( p = 0.025) and pseudoaneurysms following vascular surgery (p = 0.033). Other positive associations for reintervention (non-significant) included use of a sheath size > 6 Fr ( p = 0.108) or arterial closure device ( p = 0.111) during the pseudoaneurysm causative procedure. The pre-intervention warfarin subgroup developed a larger mean pseudoaneurysm sac size (4.21 cm, range 0.9–7.6), compared to no treatment (p = 0.003), aspirin (p = 0.005) and clopidogrel (p = 0.026) subgroups. UGTI dosage for thrombosis had a positive correlation with incremental sac size increase (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The main reintervention risk factor was pre-intervention thrombocytopaenia, with additional positive associations including pseudoaneurysms caused by surgery, increased sheath size and arterial closure devices. Warfarinized patients developed larger sac-sized pseudoaneurysms compared with other pre-intervention regimens, with positive correlation of higher UGTI dosage required for thrombosis. Advances in knowledge: Patients with pre-intervention thrombocytopaenia and pseudoaneurysms attributed to vascular surgery are subgroups that may benefit from post-intervention imaging surveillance due to significant reintervention risk.