Endovascular management of infected iliofemoral pseudoaneurysms – a systematic review

Abstract. We conducted a systematic review regarding the efficacy and outcome of endovascular treatment of infected iliofemoral arterial pseudoaneurysms with covered stents. 35 cases were identified, including 5 own. 22 pseudoaneurysms were located in the femoral area and 13 in the iliac vessels. The most commonly reported complaints were pulsatile groin mass (40 %), sepsis (37.1 %), active bleeding (31.4 %), and groin infection with purulent discharge (17.1 %). S. aureus (65.7 %) and Streptococcus species (22.9 %) were the most common microbes isolated. Factors for the development of infected pseudoaneurysms were intravenous drug use (20 %), infection of anastomosis in bypass surgery (22.9 %), cancer (14.3 %), history of multiple hip operations (14.3 %), renal transplantation (2.9 %), and obesity (5.7 %). The most commonly used covered stents were Viabahn (22.9 %),Jostent (17.1 %), Fluency (14.3 %), and Wallgraft (14.3 %). In 15 cases, surgical debridement and/or drainage was also performed.The mean follow-up was 15.8 months. There were only 2 cases of stent graft thrombosis (5.7 %). 2 patients required an open vascular bypass procedure at a later stage. One death was attributed to procedure-related complications (2.9 %). The infection rate of the deployed stent graft in follow-up was 3.4 %. Endovascular exclusion of an infected pseudoaneurysm with primary stent grafting and drainage may be an option in high-risk patients.