Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 12, Issue 10 609-613, Copyright © 1993 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Color duplex sonographically guided obliteration of pseudoaneurysm
R. B. Schwend, K. P. Hambsch, K. Y. Kwan, R. A. Boyajian and S. M. Otis
Vascular Laboratory, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California 92037.
Over a 21 month period, 112 patients were seen in the vascular laboratory
for evaluation and therapy of possible pseudoaneurysm. Pseudoaneurysm was
confirmed by color flow sonographic imaging in 31 patients. Twenty-eight of
these patients underwent sonographically monitored extrinsic manual
compression to induce thrombosis and subsequent obliteration. Complete
manual thrombosis was achieved in 17 patients while partial thrombosis with
subsequent spontaneous closure developed in three patients, for a total
success rate of 71% (20/28). In eight patients attempts to thrombose the
pseudoaneurysm failed (29%). Induction of thrombosis by manual compression
was successful in the presence of oral and intravenous anticoagulants. No
therapeutic complications were encountered. Under proper sonographic
guidance, the technique of manual obliteration of pseudoaneurysms provides
a safe and effective alternative to surgical intervention.
