Infected venous pseudoaneurysm. A complication of drug addiction

J. E. Johnson, C. E. Lucas, A. M. Ledgerwood and L. A. Jacobs

There has been an increase in the incidence of major vascular complications of intravenous drug addiction. We studied five patients who had infected venous pseudoaneurysms of the femoral vein. Patients may have cryptic sepsis or an infected hematoma from venous rupture. The vein containing pus may drain through a venipuncture site. Treatment is complete excision of the involved vein with packing of the wound. Complications due to septic embolization or metastatic infection from septicemia are common. Venous reconstruction is unwarranted.