A novel approach to treating a post-sternotomy internal mammary artery pseudoaneurysm

Abstract

Pseudoaneurysms of the internal mammary artery are a rare complication of median sternotomy. They may clinically present as a pulsatile mass or with signs of rupture and haemodynamic instability. In stable patients, percutaneous thrombin injection of the pseudoaneurysm is a safe and minimally invasive procedure to treat the pseudoaneurysm and avoid further surgery. We present a case of a pseudoaneurysm of a branch of the right internal mammary artery post-median sternotomy with no signs or symptoms of haemodynamic instability. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous thrombin injection.