Inferior epigastric artery pseudoaneurysm: Complication of surgical drain insertion

The formation of pseudoaneurysms in the epigastric artery as a complication due to the use of intra-abdominal drains is unusual. Our patient is a 61-year-old man who underwent reconstruction of the intestinal tract and right nephrectomy due to a renal tumor and incisional hernia repair. We placed two number 19 Blake intra-abdominal drains (Fig. 1) and two subcutaneous Redon drains.

Fig. 1

One month after surgery, the patient came to the emergency room with pain in the left upper quadrant. The computed tomography scan revealed a pseudoaneurysm of a branch of the left epigastric artery in the area where the drain was inserted (Fig. 2). Arteriography and embolization were performed (Fig. 3).

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Funding

There was no source of funding.

Conflict of interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.