Successful transcatheter embolization of splenic artery pseudoaneurysm in acute necrotising pancreatitis.

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare condition commonly arises as a sequelae of pancreatitis. Pseudoaneurysm is clinically silent until it ruptures. Thus, untreated pseudoaneurysm carries a high mortality rate up to 90%. We present a case of necrotising pancreatitis complicated with unruptured splenic artery pseudoaneurysm, which was found incidentally from computed tomography (CT) of abdomen. Patient was presented with symptomatic anemia and bleeding from the abdominal drain. We proceeded with embolization of pseudoaneurysm by using Histoacryl glue, resulting in successful complete resolution of pseudoaneurysm with good patient outcome. Transcatheter embolization is considered the current treatment of choice for pseudoaneurysm as it provides an alternative to conventional surgery due to its high successful rate. In this case report, we want to shed light on an alternative treatment approach of the splenic artery pseudoaneurysm.

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm complicated by haemorrhage into pancreatic pseudocyst: a clinical case

Background. Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of acute and chronic pancreatitis caused by an arterial wall lesion with aggressive pancreatic enzymes and followed by arrosive bleeding into pseudocyst lumen and the formation of a dense fibrous capsule prone to growth.Clinical Case Description. Patient M., 61 yo, was emergently admitted to Territorial Clinical Hospital No. 2 with a preliminary diagnosis: Chronic pancreatitis, incomplete remission. Pancreatic pseudocyst. Condition after endoscopic papillosphincterotomy, pancreatic duct stenting. Gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The patient complained of moderate persistent belting upper abdominal and left subcostal pain, nausea, general weakness, black liquid stool over last five days. Pancreonecrosis in history. Pseudocyst formation in two months, endoscopic papillosphincterotomy and pancreatic stenting in hospital, the aforementioned complaints appeared past three months. Moderate anaemia (haemoglobin 73 g/L, erythrocyte count 2.8 x 1012), hyperamylasaemia (amylase 170 U/L), no other pathology in general and biochemic blood panels. The patient was rendered urgent oesophagogastroduodenoscopy for large duodenal papilla, with no evident bleeding detected. Abdominal CT angiography revealed a haemorrhagic mass connected with splenic artery lumen in the projection of pancreatic tail. The patient was transferred to an interventional radiology room for coil embolisation of splenic artery. The postoperative period was benign, and the patient discharged on day 3 after surgery for outpatient surgical patronage. Definite clinical diagnosis: Chronic pancreatitis, incomplete remission. Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm with haemorrhage into pancreatic pseudocyst. Condition after endoscopic papillosphincterotomy, pancreatic duct stenting.Conclusion. Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm with haemorrhage into pancreatic pseudocyst is reluctant to early diagnosis due to a lacking definite clinical picture and tractable only at an interdisciplinary institution disposing with a rich diagnostic toolkit and sufficiently qualified medical personnel. Endovascular treatment is overall most effective and enables a reliable aneurysm isolation from the splenic artery basin.

Ruptured splenic artery pseudoaneurysm: is surgery always required?

Splenic artery aneurysms are extremely rare, and pseudoaneurysms are even rarer. More often than not, the aetiology is acute or chronic pancreatitis, although blunt trauma to abdomen and previous endovascular procedure (iatrogenic) are also known causes. The condition can have a wide spectrum of clinical presentations ranging from incidental finding to severe uncompensated circulatory shock. Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm (SAP) is frequently misdiagnosed as a pseudocyst pancreas with haemorrhage in it, as was the case with one of the present patients. In this case series, we discuss two patients of SAP. A young 33-year-old male patient, known case of pancreatitis, who presented with severe hypotension and ultrasonography (USG) suggestive of hemoperitoneum and pseudocyst pancreas with hematoma. The second patient was a 42-year-old male who presented with acute onset upper abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distension and giddiness. Both these patients were resuscitated by giving fluids and blood transfusions. Their diagnosis of SAP was confirmed on computed tomography (CT) of abdomen. Both these patients underwent endovascular coiling of SAP. Present report highlights the role of endovascular intervention in managing a bleeding SAP as long as emergency surgical team are kept on stand-by.

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm and resultant haematosuccus pancreaticus

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysm (SAP) is a rare and dangerous diagnosis with a high risk of rupture and death. It is the most common cause of main pancreatic duct haematoma—haematosuccus pancreaticus (HP). Neither SAP nor HP have specific clinical features that allow diagnosis without cross-sectional imaging. Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage and a history of pancreatitis should raise clinical suspicion but ultimately endoscopy and CT are required. We report a case of a 51-year-old man without clinical symptoms in whom cross-sectional imaging was undertaken for incidental severe acute anaemia. This demonstrated stigmata of chronic pancreatitis and the main pancreatic duct was distended with dense material in keeping with haematoma. The diagnosis of a SAP bleeding into the main pancreatic duct was made radiologically. A subsequent oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy confirmed the diagnosis. The imaging appearances, pathophysiology and management are discussed.