Objective:To evaluate surgical treatment of femoral pseudoaneurysms caused by injection of addictive drugs.
:Methods :Clinical data of 14 cases of femoral pseudoaneurysm caused by injection of addictive drugs were reviewed retrospectively. Nine patients underwent revascularization with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene(ePTFE) in situ;4 patients underwent revascularization with autologous saphenous vein in situ; 1 patient underwent ligation of profunda femoral artery.
:Results:The distal blood flow of all patients was patent immediately after operation. Eleven patients were followed up for 1 to 45 months, 1 patient had incision infection after discharge and it healed through aggressive antibiotic therapy; the other patients were asymptomatic.
:Conclusions:Revascularization with resection of pseudoaneurysm is an effective procedure for blood supply of limbs in the drug addict patients. When a suitable saphenous vein is not available for transplantation in situ, an artificial vessel graft is still an effective procedure for managing femoral pseudoaneurysms in the drug addict patients. Thorough debridement and avoidance of artificial vessel contamination during operation and sufficient drainage and aggressive antibiotic therapy after operation are the most important factors for preventing infective complications of the graft.