Brachial Artery Pseudoaneurysm: a Rare Complication after Haemodialysis Therapy

Abstract

Haemodialysis patients carry a high risk of pseudoaneurysm due to inadvertent puncture of the brachial artery during venous cannulation for haemodialysis. Signs and symptoms are pulsatile mass and a systolic murmur. Complications are rupture, infection, haemorrhage, distal arterial insufficiency, venous thrombosis and neuropathy. Early diagnosis is essential to plan adequate treatment. Doppler US and angiography usually confirm the lesion accurately. Ultrasound guided compression, percutaneous injection of thrombin, endovascular covered stent exclusion, aneurysmectomy and surgical repair are different treatment options. We report clinical and radiological findings and treatment strategies in four dialysed patients who developed brachial artery pseudoaneurysms.