pseudoaneurysm
Pronunciation: SOO-doh-an-yur-izm
A contained rupture of an artery forming a blood-filled cavity, commonly seen in trauma patients.
Full Definition
A pseudoaneurysm, also called a false aneurysm, occurs when there is a breach in the arterial wall that is contained by surrounding tissues, creating a blood-filled cavity that communicates with the arterial lumen. In trauma surgery, pseudoaneurysms commonly develop following penetrating injuries or blunt trauma to major vessels. Unlike true aneurysms, the wall of a pseudoaneurysm does not contain all normal arterial wall layers. These lesions require careful monitoring and often surgical or endovascular intervention to prevent rupture.
Usage
Usage note: Often misspelled as 'pseudo-aneurysm' - the correct form is one word without hyphen.
In Context
- "CT angiography revealed a large pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery." — Radiology report
- "The patient developed a traumatic pseudoaneurysm requiring endovascular stenting." — Vascular surgery consultation