FEMORAL ANEURYSM

Course overview

FEMORAL ARTERY PSEUDOANEURYSM CONSISTS OF AN OUTPOUCHING OF 1 OR 2 LAYERS OF THE VESSEL WALL. A TRUE ANEURYSM, ON THE OTHER HAND, INVOLVES ALL THE 3 LAYERS INCLUDING THE INTIMA, MEDIA, AND ADVENTITIA. CLINICALLY, IT MAY PRESENT WITH PULSATILE HEMATOMA, PAIN, ECCHYMOSIS, OR WITH ACTIVE EXTRAVASATION. IN CHRONIC SCENARIOS, ONCE A FIBROUS CAPSULE HAS BEEN FORMED, IT MAY PRESENT WITH A PERSISTENT FLOW COMMUNICATING WITH THE ARTERIAL LUMEN. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE CAUSES, PRESENTATION AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF FEMORAL ANEURYSMS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.