Geroulakos G, Homer-Vanniasinkam S, Wilkinson A, Galloway I
Department of Vascular Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, England.
Int Angiol. 1997 Mar;16(1):69-71.
A case of cholesterol embolisation (CE) following instrumentation of an aneurysmal aorta is presented. The patient developed myalgias, livedo reticularis in the buttocks, suprapubic area and legs, that progressed to patchy gangrene and renal failure. Maximum conservative management including heparin, iloprost and haemodialysis was ineffective, in keeping with previous reports that there is no known therapy for CE. The aetiology, presentation, treatment and prognosis of this condition is discussed. With the ever increasing use of endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms, this complication may be more frequently encountered.
