The development of an infected false aneurysm following iliac angioplasty

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is now an established effective treatment for some patients with peripheral vascular disease. The effect of angioplasty is to stretch all layers of the vessel wall which results in splitting of the atheromatous plaque and intima and to some extent the media (Sandborn et al, 1983). Surprisingly, acute arterial rupture and false aneurysm formation at the site of angioplasty are rare complications and few cases have previously been reported (Simmonetti et al, 1983; Samson et al, 1984; Creasy & McMillan, 1987; Moran & Ruttley, 1987). We describe the development of an infected false aneurysm in a patient following iliac angioplasty. As far as we are aware this complication has not previously been recorded.