Multidisciplinary Treatment of Visceral Artery Pseudoaneurysms

A pseudoaneurysm is a break in a blood vessel which allows blood to leak into the area surrounding the vein or artery. Typically a pseudoaneurysm represents a small hole in an artery which may be caused by trauma or infection.

Surgical repair of visceral artery pseudoaneurysms, or the arteries that supply blood to the abdominal intestines and organs, has been difficult.

Recently, NYU surgeons developed a technique using a covered stent to treat visceral artery pseudoaneurysms without surgical incision. In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a needle and places a covered stent through an introducer system to the level of the pseudoaneurysm.

The Division of Vascular Surgery at NYU Medical Center continues to develop this technique and others for minimally invasive repair of this dangerous condition.