Cutaneous Signs of Vascular Disorders: Pseudoaneurysm

Sudden pain and a pulsatile swellingof the right upper medial thigh concernedan 80-year-old woman (A).Coronary angioplasty had been performedthrough this site 5 weeksearlier.An ultrasonogram revealed a2-cm pseudoaneurysm of the rightcommon femoral artery (B).A true aneurysm is a dilatationof the arterial wall. A pseudoaneurysmis a blowout of the arterial needlepuncture site that results in perivascularblood collection. The bloodis contained only by surroundingsoft tissue, not by a blood vessel wall.A pseudoaneurysm may occur as acomplication of any arterial puncture.A cardiovascular surgeon repairedthe defect within hours of theonset of pain. Recovery was uneventful;there has been no recurrence.