True Brachial Artery Aneurysm as a Rare Cause of Acute Upper Extremity Ischemia

Brachial artery aneurysms constitute 0.5% of peripheral aneurysms and can be true or secondary to trauma, infection, or arteriovenous fistulas. True idiopathic brachial artery aneurysm is a very rare disease and can be asymptomatic, and in some patients, it is accompanied by episodes of acute thromboembolism. A literature review revealed 30 cases since 1971. This report presents a case of surgical treatment of a 65-year-old patient with a true idiopathic brachial artery aneurysm complicated by distal thromboembolism and acute upper extremity ischemia. In such cases, the main method of treatment is emergency reconstructive surgery, but further significant studies are needed to explore and compare different modes of invasive intervention, like open versus endovascular, to plan future treatment strategies.