A case report of surgical repair of a post-catheterization radial pseudoaneurysm

Abstract

We report an 83-year-old patient with a huge post-catheterization right radial pseudoaneurysm, presented 17 months after a coronary angiography. Cases of radial post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms with a similar size are scarce in the literature. Delay in presentation led to painful skin ischemia due to tension, a sign of imminent rupture, which is also rare in the literature. Symptomatology included severe wrist pain and clinical signs consisted of a pulsatile painful mass in the right distal forearm. Management consisted of surgical excision and ligation of the radial artery in an urgent base. This case emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and management of post-catheterization pseudoaneurysms as delay may lead to severe enlargement with skin necrosis and imminent rupture. Ligation of the radial artery is an acceptable option when reconstruction of the artery is troublesome, provided that the palmar arch remains patent.