Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of color Doppler ultrasound guided compression therapy of postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms and the factors that may effect the success.

Methods: Twenty-two pseudoaneurysms were included in the study. Direct compession was applied by the lineer probe on the neck of lesions in a manner not obstmating the main artery flow. The pseudoaneurysms thrombosed after compression formed the successful group and the lesions didn’t thrombose formed the unsuccessful one. To investigate the factors that may effect the results (age, sex, usage of anticoagulants and/or antiplatelets, origin, age and volume of lesions, dimensions of neck, flow speed in neck, and total compression time) were recorded.

Results: Fifteen pseudoaneurysms originated from main femoral artery, four from superficial femoral artery and three from brakial artery. The two cases that could not tolerate pain were sent to surgery. Eighteen cases totaly thrombosed after compression. In two cases, it was unsuccessful. No complications occurred. The compression therapy of femoral and brachial postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms was successful 90%. The quantitative factors that may effect the results could not be evaluated as there were not enough cases in one of the groups. The qualitative factors did not have any significant effect on the results. However, the relation between the usage of anticoagulants and the results was nearer to the statistical border than the other factors.

Conclusions: It was shown that the color Doppler guided compression therapy of pseudoaneurysms was effective and safe, so it could reduce the need for surgery.

Keywords : Pseudoaneurysm, Doppler, sonography, treatment, compression therapy