Unruptured cystic artery pseudoaneurysm accompanied by Mirizzi syndrome: a report of a case

Pseudoaneurysm of cystic artery stump after laparoscopic cholecystectomy managed successfully with branch hepatic artery embolization using jail technique

An unusual manifestation caused by cholecystitis, infection, or iatrogenic damage after cholecystectomy is a pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery. We report this rare illness in a 64-year-old man who visited the emergency room with hematemesis and anemia. The patient initially experienced acute cholecystitis and then underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy following which he developed a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm, secondary to infected fluid collection. Based on the patient's history and contrast-enhanced computer tomography abdomen, a diagnosis of pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery was made. Angioembolization of the hepatic artery branch was performed to occlude the pseudoaneurysm.

Hemobilia in the setting of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to type I Mirizzi syndrome

Hemobilia is an uncommon diagnosis and is often not suspected in the absence of recent hepatobiliary intervention or trauma. Hemobilia in the setting of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to type I Mirizzi syndrome is a rare occurrence. We report the case of a 61-year-old male who presented with epigastric pain and vomiting. Blood tests demonstrated hyperbilirubinemia with elevated inflammatory markers. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed type I Mirizzi syndrome in the presence of a 21 mm cystic duct stone. During endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, hemobilia was identified. Subsequent triple phase computed tomography imaging identified a 12 mm cystic artery pseudoaneurysm. Angiography with successful coiling of the cystic artery was accomplished. Cholecystectomy was performed, confirming type I Mirizzi syndrome. This case demonstrates the importance of considering ruptured pseudoaneurysm in patients presenting with evidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in the setting of biliary stone disease. Transarterial embolization, followed by surgical management, is effective in both the diagnosis and management of ruptured cystic artery pseudoaneurysm with associated hemobilia.

A case of Mirizzi syndrome accompanied by a pseudoaneurysm that ruptured into the gallbladder: successfully treated by embolization of aneurysm and sequential surgery

Background

Although visceral aneurysms are relatively rare, it can be life-threatening in case it ruptures. We report a case of Mirizzi syndrome accompanied by a pseudoaneurysm that ruptured into the gallbladder.

Case presentation

The patient was a 73-year-old woman with persistent gastrointestinal bleeding and progressive jaundice. Examination revealed a pseudoaneurysm in the gallbladder artery or hepatic artery branch, and biliary hemorrhage due to gallbladder perforation was suspected. Urgent abdominal angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm measuring 50 × 32 mm that had ruptured directly from the right hepatic artery or the cystic artery into the gallbladder. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully coiled and the bleeding was stopped. The presence of ongoing obstruction due to Mirizzi syndrome resulted in an emergency cholecystectomy being performed on the same day. On removing the impacted gallstone from the neck of the gallbladder, we found an obstruction between the lateral wall of the common bile duct and the gallbladder, this condition was diagnosed as Mirizzi syndrome with a biliobiliary fistula. After removing the impacted gallstone, a T-tube was inserted into the common bile duct. Bile leakage was observed postoperatively, but it improved with drainage. The patient fully recovered.

Conclusions

We present our experience with a case of Mirizzi syndrome accompanied by a ruptured pseudoaneurysm successfully treated with coil embolization followed by cholecystectomy. In this case, the pseudoaneurysm may have been caused by inflammation due to cholecystitis or compression of the arterial wall by a gallstone. To the best of our knowledge, Mirizzi syndrome associated with pseudoaneurysm rupture is rare. Our study suggested that cholecystectomy preceded by transcatheter arterial embolization is an effective strategy to control bleeding in patients with hemobilia due to aneurysm.

Cystic Artery Pseudoaneurysm: Current Review of Aetiology, Presentation, and Management

Background

Cystic artery pseudoaneurysms are rare. Most commonly, they occur secondary to acute cholecystitis or after a cholecystectomy. Complications include haemobilia, biliary obstruction, and haemorrhage. Given the rarity and associated morbidity, a high index of suspicion is required. This article reviews the current literature on cystic artery pseudoaneurysms to investigate its aetiology, clinical presentation, and management options.

Methods

A broad search of the Medline and PubMed databases was carried through. All peer reviewed literatures published in the English language between 1991 and 2020 with keywords "cystic" and "artery" and "pseudoaneurysm" in the title were selected for review. No further exclusion criteria; all studies yielded from the search were included in the results of this review. Additionally, we present a case of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm treated at our centre and included this in our analysis.

Results

Sixty-seven case reports were found between 1991 and 2020. Aetiologies: Aetiology of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm was found to be cholecystitis in 41 instances (61.2%), cholecystectomy in 18 instances (26.8%), idiopathic in 6 instances (8.9%) cholelithiasis in 1 instance (1.5%), and pancreatitis in 1 instance (1.5%). Complications: Fifty-two cases were complicated by haemobilia (77.6%), 36 by anaemia (53.7%), 25 by biliary obstruction (37.3%), 13 by haemodynamic shock (19.4%), 9 by haemoperitoneum (13.4%), and 6 by contained rupture (8.9%). Most commonly, patients had two or more of these complications. Management: Forty-four patients were managed with endovascular embolisation (65.7%), 21 with endoscopic intervention (31.3%), 18 with open cholecystectomy (26.9%), 13 with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (19.4%), and 6 with pseudoaneurysm ligation (9%). Delayed presentation postcholecystectomy ranged from 8 days to 3 years.

Conclusions

Cystic artery pseudoaneurysms are rare complications of a common operation. The most common clinical presentation is haemobilia, which can be difficult to diagnose clinically. A high index of suspicion and prompt investigation with targeted imaging and intervention is required. This is especially pertinent in gastrointestinal bleeding postlaparoscopic cholecystectomy as a missed diagnosis could cause significant morbidity.

Giant true hepatic aneurysm mimicking Mirizzi syndrome

Giant true aneurysms of the hepatic arteries are rare. Pseudoaneurysms of the hepatic arteries are more common and are mostly caused by intra-abdominal infection, iatrogenic injury, or trauma. Hepatic or cystic pseudoaneurysms are often successfully treated by embolization owing to their saccular nature as opposed to true aneurysms. We present a case of a patient with a giant true aneurysm of the proper hepatic artery, mimicking Mirizzi syndrome. Open reconstruction was successfully preformed, and the patient made a full recovery.

Ruptured Cystic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Successfully Treated with Urgent Cholecystectomy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Patient: Male, 90

Final Diagnosis: Ruptured cystic artery pseudoaneurysm

Symptoms: Epigastric pain • Fever

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: Open cholecystectomy

Specialty: Gastroenterology and Hepatology