Superficial Femoral Artery Pseudoaneurysm and Arterial Wall Destruction After Drug-Coated Balloon Treatment

Drug-coated balloon angioplasty may present an efficient alternative to traditional balloon angioplasty and stenting, which suffer from high rates of restenosis and increased risk of stent fractures in the anatomically unfavorable regions, such as the superficial femoral artery in the adductor canal. Although pseudoaneurysms are the most common vascular access site complications, they are considerably rarer at the site of the endovascular treatment. They can be caused by several mechanisms, including stent fractures, usage of oversized balloons, high-pressure inflations, and infections. In addition, paclitaxel, the drug released from drug-coated balloons, may also play a significant role in the formation and exacerbation of pseudoaneurysms. The exact pathophysiology remains unclear, but it may be due to a combination of paclitaxel's suppression of neointimal healing and immune response, cytotoxic properties, and hypersensitivity-related inflammation.