Femoral Artery Patch Infection and Subsequent Rupture Secondary to Sinus Tract Formation in a Patient With Traumatic Burns

Abstract

Femoral endarterectomies are among the myriad revascularization techniques used to treat peripheral arterial disease. Nonetheless, it is essential to assess individual patient factors to optimize outcomes. While rare, complications such as patch and graft infections or ruptures can occur in these procedures. These complications may be catastrophic, requiring close monitoring and swift intervention to minimize the risk of limb loss or death. This case report describes the successful treatment of a patient who developed an infection in a femoral artery patch, which resulted in rupture due to sinus tract formation following a traumatic burn injury.

Keywords: autologous patch graft; bovine pericardial patch; burn injury; patch infection; peripheral arterial diseases; sinus tracts; vascular repair.

Figure 1. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the lower extremity.

CTA image of the lower extremity indicating a diffuse atheromatous plaque marked by the red arrow in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). Similar atheromatous lesions were observed in the proximal SFA segment and common femoral artery with a complete occlusion 1.8 cm proximal to the common femoral bifurcation.

Figure 2. Formation of the sinus tract.

A computed tomography angiography transverse image indicating a small sinus tract marked by the green arrow from a post-surgical incision from a prior left femoral artery endarterectomy. The left common femoral artery has significant post-surgical changes consistent with a prior endarterectomy including arterial ectasia measuring 1.3 × 1.3 cm in the axial plane.