Upper extremıty arterıal aneurysms: Etıology, management, and outcome.

Background: Upper extremity arterial aneurysms are not common clinical conditions. It may causes ischemic gangrene or limb losses as a result of thromboembolic events due to endothelial damage. In this study, we aimed to investigate the etiology, management, and long-term outcome.

Methods: A total of 55 upper extremity aneurysms between January 2009 and April 2018 were retrospectively investigated. The mean age was 41 ± 13 years, and the women and men were 13 (23.6%) and 42 (76.4%). The mean follow-up was 43 ± 18 months.

Results: The incidence of pseudoaneurysm was higher than the true aneurysm (64.5% vs. 35.5%). 30 (84%) patients who had pseudoaneurysm repaired primerely and 6 (16%) patients had patchplasty. About 58% of the true aneurysm caused by blunt trauma. 4 (21%) true brachial aneurysm patients were required emergency intervention due to distal ischemia. 16 (84.2%) patients operated using by saphenous vein graft. The primary and secondary patency was 87.5% and 93.8%. No limb or life loss occurred during follow-up.

Conclusion: Pseudoaneurysms are more common among upper limb aneurysms and they occur mostly by iatrogenic causes. Blunt trauma can be main cause of the true aneurysm. Surgical resection of the aneurysm and interposition of saphenous vein graft provides excellent results in the long-term.