Iatrogenic false aneurysms.

Of 270 patients operated upon for aneurysm, 25 patients underwent repair for 28 iatrogenic false aneurysms. Of these, 67.9% were complications of vascular reconstructive surgery and 64.3% occurred at the groin. Iatrogenic false aneurysm was associated with various prosthetic and suture materials and in many the attenuation of host arterial wall appeared to play an important role. Newer invasive procedures, such as arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agents, also lead to formation of iatrogenic false aneurysm. Infections, present in 50% of the author's series, and intra-abdominal iatrogenic false aneurysm, with abdominal viscera forming part of the aneurysmal wall, posed a technical challenge. Iatrogenic false aneurysm is a potentially grave complication since the mortality and limb loss were each 8% in this series.