Published online Jul 26, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i21.4755
Revised: May 17, 2024
Accepted: June 3, 2024
Published online: July 26, 2024
Processing time: 98 Days and 15.1 Hours
Brachial artery aneurysms are defined as dilations greater than 50% of the normal diameter, which are rare among all peripheral arterial aneurysms. While they are often present as pseudoaneurysms, true brachial artery aneurysms are also detected rarely. In this case report, the surgical repair method of true brachial artery aneurysms, which is a rare condition, is explained.
Herein, we present a 61-year-old male patient with complaints of swelling and pain in the right arm antecubital region that had been progressing over 6 mo. Upon the diagnosis of a true brachial artery aneurysm associated with arteriovenous fistula, the aneurysm was surgically repaired with an autologous saphenous vein graft. The patient was discharged without any neurovascular complications postoperatively.
True brachial artery aneurysms are rare and there are not any recommendations for their management in the current literature. Even though the treatment of true aneurysms in this artery is primarily based on a surgical treatment, endovascular repair also might be an option.
Core Tip: Brachial artery aneurysm often presents as a mass in the upper extremity and is asymptomatic. Pain or neurological symptoms related to median nerve compression, as well as hand or digital ischemia due to thrombosis or distal embolization, may occur. While endovascular techniques have been described in the literature for treating pseudoaneurysms in the brachial artery, the treatment of true aneurysms in this artery is primarily based on a surgical approach involving aneurysm resection and the placement of autologous venous or prosthetic grafts. Based on our clinical experiences and as in the reported case, surgical repair is the appropriate treatment option that should be undertaken without delay to prevent upper extremity ischemic sequelae. However, due to the rarity of true brachial artery aneurysm occurrences and a lack of sufficient studies among the available treatment options, the matter remains open to discussion and maintains its relevance.