The Use of Autologous Subcutaneous Fat Tissue to Embolize an Infected Iliac Artery Pseudoaneurysm

Vasc Endovascular Surg. 2023 Oct;57(7):816-819. doi: 10.1177/15385744231192880. Epub 2023 Jul 30.

Abstract

We describe a patient with a fistula between small bowel and a polyester patch of the common iliac artery. After emergency treatment with an endograft, the patch was replaced by a venous patch. Within 3-week a symptomatic pseudoaneurysm developed. It was decided to embolize the pseudoaneurysm using autologous subcutaneous fat, followed by a femoro-femoral crossover bypass using an allograft. Using this technique, the pseudoaneurysm was successfully excluded. This case shows that subcutaneous fat tissue can be used as an autologous embolic material, also in larger vessel pathology and in cases of ongoing infection, where regular embolization material cannot be used.

Keywords: embolisation; infection; pseudoaneurysm; subcutaneous fat.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aneurysm, False* / diagnostic imaging
  • Aneurysm, False* / etiology
  • Aneurysm, False* / therapy
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation*
  • Humans
  • Iliac Artery / surgery
  • Subcutaneous Fat / diagnostic imaging
  • Subcutaneous Fat / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome