[Femoral pseudoaneurysms in drug addicts: About 4 cases].

PURPOSE: To describe the therapeutic management of false aneurysms of the femoral artery in drug addicts.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the cases of four drug addicts with pseudoaneurysms of the femoral artery.

RESULTS: All patients were male with a mean age of 36 years. Emergency surgical treatment involved removal of the pseudoaneurysm followed by a venous graft (n=3) or patch (n=1). The post-operative period was uneventful for three patients. One patient required early revision with a second venous bypass after bleeding from the first then later a second revision for resection of infected tissue and sartorius muscle plasty to cover the groin area. Late outcome was favorable for all patients after an average 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSION: No consensus has been reached concerning the appropriate treatment for false aneurysms of the femoral artery in drug addicts. Analyses of larger series with longer follow-ups are needed to elucidate the best emergency surgical methods capable of reducing the risk of rupture.