Management trends for postcatheterization femoral artery pseudoaneurysms.

Femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is the most common complication of femoral artery access. Since the 1990s, use of femoral artery access has increased along with cardiac and peripheral interventions. Conservative management with observation is an option for some patients with femoral artery pseudoaneurysms. Open surgical repair was the mainstay of therapy before 1990 but was replaced by ultrasound-guided compression, which in turn has been replaced by ultrasound-guided thrombin injection because of its high success rate and low rate of complications. This article describes femoral artery pseudoaneurysms and their management.