Endovascular repair of radial artery non-anastomotic pseudoaneurysm in a radial forearm free flap

Abstract

The development of pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon, life-threatening complication of head and neck microvascular surgery. Only a handful of reports have been published describing microvascular pseudoaneurysms, which usually occur at the arterial anastomosis and present as a pulsatile neck mass or as haemorrhage in case of pseudoaneurysm rupture. Management is highly variable, especially in the acute setting. In patients with pseudoaneurysm where flap inosculation is inadequate, endovascular approaches may be appropriate. In this report, we describe a ruptured distal pedicle pseudoaneurysm of a radial forearm free flap salvaged with a flow-diverting stent with complete flap survival and pedicle preservation. We demonstrate further evidence and feasibility of endovascular treatment of a non-anastomotic pseudoaneurysm arising from small vessels when parent vascular integrity is critical to flap survival.

Keywords: Clinical neurophysiology; Ear, nose and throat; Head and neck surgery; Neuro ITU; Neuroimaging.