Four Cases with Undergoing Hemodialysis of Infectious Pseudoaneurysm of Extracranial Carotid Artery

Abstract

Aneurysm of extracranial carotid artery unusually occurs, especially pseudoaneurysm caused by infection. Whereas we face this disease rarely, it can be life-threatening with a high mortality rate. We describe 4 cases of infectious pseudoaneurysm of extracranial carotid artery. All of them had been undergoing hemodialysis, so we recognized that hemodialysis was a risk for infectious pseudoaneurysm.

Some authors have mentioned about the immunodeficiency of hemodialysis patients as the cause of infectious pseudoanyeurysms, but the recurrent shunt-puncture and heparization can be also risk factors.