Abstract

Vascular access site complications, including infections, have become increasingly prevalent with the rise of interventional procedures. This case report presents a 48-year-old male with a history of coronary artery disease who developed a rare intra-arterial abscess following angioplasty and stenting of the right superficial femoral artery through the left femoral access. Initially, the patient underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) via the right femoral artery, followed by peripheral angioplasty and stenting for right femoral artery stenosis. Postprocedure, he developed a superficial abscess at the right groin, which persisted despite initial drainage and medical therapy. Surgical exploration during debridement revealed extensive arterial destruction, with complete femoral artery destruction, thrombosis both proximal and distal to the stent, and a localized infected stent. The patient was initiated on culture-directed antibiotic therapy. This case highlights the rare but severe complication of intra-arterial abscess formation following endovascular procedures, with significant potential for stent thrombosis, vessel rupture, and arterial destruction. It underscores the critical need for routine antibiotic prophylaxis, vigilant post-procedural surveillance, and prompt intervention in cases of stent infection. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of deferring revascularization procedures until the infection has resolved to mitigate the risk of further complications.

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