2021 Volume 35 Issue 4 Pages 289-293
Vascular injury associated with proximal humeral fractures is rarely reported and no standard treatment has been established. The VIABAHN® endoprosthesis may be used to repair traumatic or iatrogenic vascular injuries. An 87-year-old man presented with impaired mobility. He sustained a proximal left humeral fracture three months before. Anemia was present (Hb 6.0 g/dL) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography to identify the source of bleeding led to the diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm of the left axillary artery. As the patient had a pacemaker implanted in the left thoracic region, endovascular therapy using a VIABAHN® was selected in order to avoid surgery. A retrograde approach via the left radial artery was employed and the pseudoaneurysm disappeared as a result of stent compression. Postoperatively, there were no endoleaks or migration and the patient was transferred to another healthcare provider. VIABAHN® may provide an effective minimally invasive therapeutic option for the treatment of axillary artery injury, even in cases where surgical repair is difficult.
