The Internet Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery™ ISSN: 1524-0274

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Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the proximal ulnar artery

Ahmet Özelçi
Specialist
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital Email address Physical Address

Ufuk Yetkin
Clinical Deputy Chief, Assoc. Prof.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital Physical Address

Muhammet Akyüz
Resident
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital Physical Address

İsmail Yürekli
Specialist
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital Physical Address

Ali Gürbüz
Clinic Chief, Assoc. Prof.
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
İzmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital Physical Address

Citation: A. Özelçi, U. Yetkin, M. Akyüz, Ä. Yürekli & A. Gürbüz : Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the proximal ulnar artery. The Internet Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2009 Volume 13 Number 2

Keywords: ulnar artery | pseudoaneurysm | surgical repair

 

Abstract

Ulnar artery pseudoaneurysms are rare lesions.
We describe a case of posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the proximal ulnar artery.
Open surgical repair must be the standard approach for the symptomatic and rapidly enlarging pseudoaneurysm.


Introduction

Vessel trauma can cause systemic,regional and local pathophysiological problems. Proximal ulnar artery aneurysms, including pseudoaneurysms, have not been described in the English literature1.

Case Presentation

An 18- year- old man was injured with a piece of glass 3 weeks ago. He admitted to our clinic for progressive swelling and pain on the medial part of his right forearm. Twenty days after injury, he developed a pseudoaneurysm of the right proximal ulnar artery (Figure 1).

Thumbnail: Figure 1: Pseudoaneurysmal mass at the right forearm.
Figure 1: Pseudoaneurysmal mass at the right forearm.

His right ulnar artery pulse was hardly determined when compared with the other forearm. There was pulsation on the mass and a murmur was heard correlated with systolic thrill. Upper extremity arterial and venous colored Doppler ultrasonography (CDUSG) was performed. The size of the aneurysm (22x 30 mm) and progressive pain gave the impression of a threatened rupture (Figure 2).

Thumbnail: Figure 2: Doppler ultrasonographic view of pseudoaneurysm.
Figure 2: Doppler ultrasonographic view of pseudoaneurysm.

The ulnar artery proximal to the aneurysm had normal triphasic upper extremity flow pattern. Although the flow rate slowed down distal to the aneurysm, it still preserved the triphasic flow pattern (Figure 3).

Thumbnail: Figure 3: Slower but preserved triphasic flow pattern of the ulnar artery segment distal to the pseudoaneurysm.
Figure 3: Slower but preserved triphasic flow pattern of the ulnar artery segment distal to the pseudoaneurysm.

Venous structures were normal. During an urgent surgical exploration the pseudoaneurysm was found and resected. No material was seen with embolectomy with proximal and distal 3 Fr Fogarty catheters (Figure 4).

Thumbnail: Figure 4: No thrombus material could be obtained during proximal and distal embolectomy procedures.
Figure 4: No thrombus material could be obtained during proximal and distal embolectomy procedures.

Initially retrograde flow in artery was observed and because it was not appropriate for primary repair, injured segment was resected with the pseudoaneurysm area (5 cm).Saphenous vein graft’s diameter was adequate for interposition. The injured artery was repaired with it (Figure 5).

Thumbnail: Figure 5: Interposition of the autogenous saphenous vein graft.
Figure 5: Interposition of the autogenous saphenous vein graft.

After surgical treatment the patient experienced an excellent anatomic and functional recovery. All distal pulses were similar to opposite ones during postoperative period. Microbiological culture results of saccular material were negative and pathological examination showed the pseudoaneurysm. A control CDUSG performed one month after surgery revealed a normal vascular morphology.

Discussion

Ulnar artery pseudoaneurysms are rare lesions that usually occur distal to the wrist and cause symptoms as a result of embolization and rarely rupture2.

The combination of a large-sized pseudoaneurysm, lack of a history of penetrating trauma and presentation of threatened rupture are unique and reported previously in the study of Filis et al3.

Clinical examination and color-flow duplex ultrasound(CDUSG) identify the majority of pseudoaneurysms. In addition to diagnosis CDUSG gives detailed information about pseudoaneurysms dimensions,morphology,neck anatomy,flow and relation with adjacent vessels4. Open surgical repair must be the standard approach for the symptomatic and rapidly enlarging pseudoaneurysm in order to avoid from embolization,thrombosis and rupture those threatening the function and vitality of the extremity and less invasive methods must be preserved for rare and complicated cases.

References

1. Sekino S, Takagi H, Kato T, Matsuno Y, Sekido Y, Umemoto T. Nontraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the proximal ulnar artery with eosinophilia. J Vasc Surg 2005 ;42(6):1233-5. (s)

2. Erdoes LS, Brown WC. Ruptured ulnar artery pseudoaneurysm. Ann Vasc Surg 1995 ;9(4):394-6. (s)

3. Filis K, Kontos M, Pikoulis E, Bakoyannis C, Leppäniemi A, Bastounis EA. Expanding ulnar artery aneurysm presenting with signs of threatened rupture. Acta Chir Belg 2006 ;106(1):101-3. (s)

4. Corriere MA,Guzman RJ. True and false aneurysms of the femoral artery. Semin Vasc Surg. 2005 Dec;18(4):216-23. (s)

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