pseudoaneurysm

Introduction

Dilatation & tortuosity of a blood vessel.

Etiology

• most common peripheral vascular complication after cardiac catheterization
  • occurs when the wall of an artery is punctured & does not adequately seal after the procedure

Epidemiology

• rare after diagnostic cardiac catheterization
• incidence increases to 2-6% after percutaneous coronary intervention due to anticoagulation required

Clinical manifestations

• tender, pulsatile mass at the site of arterial puncture
• audible systolic bruit

Diagnostic procedures

• ultrasonography can confirm diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

• aneurysm
  • an aneurysm involves all 3 layers of the vessel wall; a pseudoaneurysm does not
• arteriovenous fistula
  • much less common than pseudoaneurysm
  • like pseudoaneurysm, a pulsatile mass with a bruit
    • however, bruit is continuous throughout cardiac cycle
• hematoma
  • not pulsatile, no bruit
• arterial dissection
  • not pulsatile, no systolic bruit

More general terms

• abnormal morphologic structure (malformation)