Visceral artery aneurysm rupture

Beyond the Band-Aid: Robot-Assisted Laparoscopy for Splenic Aneurysms. A Systematic Review

INTRODUCTION

Splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) is characterized by a weakening and bulging of splenic artery. Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique. This systematic review aimed to assess the use of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery to manage SAA.

METHODOLOGY

Five medical databases were used to identify studies that investigated the use of robotic devices in laparoscopic SAA management in humans. Original, peer-reviewed articles were included. Two authors independently screened articles and extracted data on factors including patient demographics, surgical procedures, and outcomes.

RESULTS

The PRISMA search identified seven studies with a total of 28 patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for SAA. The studies reported successful surgeries using various techniques, including end-to-end anastomosis, ligation, and graft placement. 3D printed models were used in one study as an aid for pre-operative surgery planning. Mean operation time was 210 minutes, and three complications were reported (robotic arm failure during surgery and two conversions to open surgery).

DISCUSSION AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery offers several advantages over traditional open surgery for SAA management. However, more research is needed to confirm these potential benefits and establish robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery as a standard treatment option for SAA. Future studies should involve larger patient groups, compare this method to traditional techniques, and evaluate its cost-effectiveness. Additionally, incorporating advancements like mixed reality for pre-operative planning and 3D printing to improve surgical planning and patient communication.

Combined Endovascular Repair of a Giant Symptomatic Hepatic Aneurysm: A Case Report and Comprehensive Literature Review

Hepatic artery aneurysms (HAAs) are an uncommon vascular disease, which account for 20% of visceral artery aneurysms. The majority are usually asymptomatic and discovered accidentally during imaging control, but occasionally, they can present as acute abdominal pain, haemobilia, obstructive jaundice, or gastrointestinal bleeding due to aneurysm sac expansion or rupture with catastrophic consequences. We present the case of a 51-year-old male patient with a giant common HAA of 11.1 cm who was managed endovascularly. A combined endovascular approach was decided due to the anatomy of the aneurysm. Endovascular embolization with coils in the distal part of the aneurysm and deployment of a stent graft proximally to exclude inflow were used. At six months, the aneurysm size was regressed at 5 cm; however, seven months after the operation, the patient presented with pylorus perforation due to coil migration which was managed by coil removal, peripheral gastrectomy, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. We provide a narrative literature review regarding the endovascular repair of giant HAAs. The PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched for articles up to January 2024. Thirty-eight studies (case reports, case series) were retrieved. The conclusion is that giant HAAs are a rare and severe condition in which their treatment can be challenging with unexpected adverse events. The literature review suggests that the endovascular approach whenever feasible is a safe and effective treatment option with low morbidity and mortality.

Open Management of an Asymptomatic 4.2 Cm Middle Colic Artery Aneurysm and Liteture Review

BACKGROUND

Aneurysms of the middle colic artery (MCAA) and its branches are exceedingly rare accounting for <3% of total visceral aneurysms. Very few MCAA cases have been reported in the literature with only three cases accounting for a diameter >4 cm.

METHOD

We describe the successful open repair with ligation of a 4.2 cm asymptomatic MCAA in a female patient through the gastrohepatic ligament taking meticulous caution to avoid injury of the pancreas. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged from the hospital on the fifth postoperative day. At 1 month follow-up the postoperative computed tomographic angiography documented complete exclusion of the MCAA and absence of contrast agent in the sac both in the arterial and the venous phase.

CONCLUSION

While the endovascular treatment is the first-line option for visceral aneurysms, the open approach is still reserved for certain cases of hostile anatomy, challenging location and large size. Our case highlights the irreplaceable role of open surgery and underlines the collaboration between surgical specialties.

A mycotic aneurysm of a jejunal branch treated by aneurysmectomy without bowel resection

Jejunal artery pseudoaneurysms are extremely rare, accounting for <1% of all visceral artery pseudoaneurysms. Fewer than 50 cases were reported in literature during the previous century. This case report describes the case of a 72-year-old man who underwent aneurysmectomy to treat a 21-mm mycotic jejunal artery pseudoaneurysm found in the setting of endocarditis. This pseudoaneurysm was treated with laparotomy, and gentle dissection of the tissues surrounding the pseudoaneurysm was performed before ligation and resection. This allowed for vascular collateral branch preservation, which, thus, avoided concomitant bowel resection. This report highlights the feasibility of this technique.

Presentation of unruptured right gastric aneurysm due to segmental arterial mediolysis resected laparoscopically: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Timely diagnosis and treatment of intra-abdominal arterial aneurysms before rupture are highly recommended. We successfully prevented rupture through arterial aneurysm excision, highlighting the importance of the lack of reports on resection before rupture.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 60-year-old male with previous history of ureteral stones presented complaining primarily of left-sided abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a left ureteral stone and incidentally identified a submucosal gastric tumor and right gastric artery aneurysm, leading to referral to our department. Blood tests showed no abnormalities. CT revealed a 23-mm submucosal tumor protruding outward from the middle gastric body wall. A 13-mm aneurysm was observed in the right gastric artery, and no other aneurysms were detected, including intracranially. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a smooth elevation covered by normal mucosa in the middle gastric body. Endoscopic ultrasound-fine needle aspiration resulted in a diagnosis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and surgery. We performed simultaneous surgery involving laparoscopic local resection of the gastric GIST and identification and excision of the right gastric artery aneurysm due to its enlargement (7 mm on CT conducted six years ago). The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged on postoperative day 6. Pathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of segmental arterial mediolysis.

DISCUSSION

Intra-abdominal arterial aneurysms affect approximately 1 % of the population. Splenic artery aneurysms are the most common at 58.7 %, whereas the gastric artery and gastroepiploic artery account for only 4.7 %.

CONCLUSION

Right gastric artery aneurysms are exceedingly rare, with no reported cases of successful resection before rupture.

Endovascular and Open Surgical Treatment of Ruptured Splenic Artery Aneurysms: A Case Report and a Systematic Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Ruptured splenic artery aneurysms (r-SAA), although rare, are burdened by high morbidity and mortality, even despite emergent surgical repair. It is suggested that endovascular treatment can achieve reduction in peri-operative death and complication rates, as in other vascular diseases, but evidence of such benefits is still lacking in this particular setting. We report a case of an r-SAA treated by trans-arterial embolization and then converted to open surgery for persistent bleeding, and we provide a systematic review of current results of open and endovascular repair of r-SAAs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 50-year-old male presenting in shock for a giant r-SAA underwent emergent coil embolization and recovered hemodynamic stability. On the following day, he underwent laparotomy for evacuation of the huge intraperitoneal hematoma, but residual bleeding was noted from the splenic artery, which was ligated after coil removal, and a splenectomy was performed. A systematic literature review of the reported mortality and complications of r-SAA undergoing open (OSR) or endovascular (EVT) treatment was performed using the main search databases. All primary examples of research published since 1990 were included regardless of sample size. The main outcome measures were mortality and reinterventions. Secondary outcomes were post-operative complications.

RESULTS

We selected 129 studies reporting on 350 patients-185 treated with OSR and 165 with EVT. Hemodynamically unstable patients and ruptures during pregnancy were more frequently treated with open repair. Overall, there were 37 deaths (mortality: 10.6%)-24 in the OSR group and 13 in the EVTr group (mortality: 12.9% and 7.8% respectively, p-value: 0.84). There were 37 reinterventions after failed or complicated endovascular repair -6 treated with endovascular re-embolization and 31 with laparotomy and splenectomy (22.4%); there were 3 (1.6%) reinterventions after open repair. Overall complication rates were 7.3% in the EVT group (n: 12) and 4.2% in the OSR group (n: 7), and did not require reintervention. No significant differences in overall complications or in any specific complication rate were observed between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Current results of r-SAA treatment show equipoise terms of morbidity and mortality between open and endovascular repair; however, in case of hemodynamic instability and rupture during pregnancy, open surgery might still be safer. Moreover, endovascular repair is still burdened by a significantly higher rate of reinterventions, mostly with conversions to open surgery.

Characteristics of ANCA-associated vasculitis with aneurysms: Case series and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is an exceptional cause of small and large vascular aneurysms. Here, we present the phenotypic characteristics of patients with AAV associated with the presence of aneurysms.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective multicenter study and a systematic review of the literature. Only AAV patients with positive ANCA results and > 1 aneurysm(s) were enrolled. Patients were recruited through a call of observations among the French Vasculitis Study Group (FVSG) and the French Internal Medicine Network. Patients with aneurysm rupture were compared to those without.

RESULTS

We enrolled 51 patients in the cohort, including 31 (67%) with granulomatosis with polyangiitis. The median Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score was 18 [6-41]. A total of 92 aneurysms were noted, 74% of which involved medium-sized arteries, particularly the renal artery. During a follow-up of 24 [6-56] months, 22 (43%) patients experienced aneurysmal rupture, 91% of which involved medium-sized vessels. Patients with aneurysmal rupture showed significantly more pulmonary infiltrates and higher creatinine levels at baseline than patients without rupture. Initial treatments did not differ between the two groups. Ten (20%) patients died during the follow-up, including three from an aneurysmal rupture.

CONCLUSION

Aneurysms were more frequently observed in GPA patients and predominantly affected medium-sized vessels, especially the renal arteries. The risk of rupture was high and occurred in >40% of patients. Because of their increased mortality, further studies are required to better manage this subset of patients.

Crohn's Disease and Jejunal Artery Aneurysms: A Report of the First Case and a Review of the Literature

Background and Objectives: Jejunal artery (JA) and ileal artery (IA) aneurysms constitute less than 3% of all visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs), carrying a risk of rupture as high as 30%, and a mortality of 20%. Though many etiologies have been reported in the literature, no mention exists on a causal association between these aneurysms and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). We present the first case of a JA aneurysm related to Crohn's Disease (CD) together with a review of the literature. Materials and Methods: A 74-year-old male presenting with CD intestinal relapse and an incidental finding at the computed tomography enterography (CTE) of a 53 × 47 × 25mm apparently intact JA pseudoaneurysm, arising from the first and second jejunal branches, underwent coil embolization followed by small bowel resection, with an uneventful outcome. We also included the review of literature on JA and IA aneurysms, analyzing all reports published in PubMed and Scopus from 1943 to July 2022. Results: 60 manuscripts with 103 cases of JA and IA aneurysms in 100 patients were identified. Among cases with available data, 34 (33.0%) presented acutely with rupture, 45 (43.7%) were described as non-ruptured. 83 (80.6%), and 14 (13.6%) were JA and IA aneurysms, respectively, having a median size of 15 (range:3.5-52) mm. Atherosclerosis (16.5%), infections (10.7%), and vasculitides/connective tissue disorders (9.7%) represented the main causes mentioned. Mean age was 53.6 (±19.2) years, male patients being 59.4%. One third of patients (32.4%) were asymptomatic. Overall, treatment was indicated in 63% of patients, with surgery and endovascular procedures performed in 61.9% and 38.1% cases, respectively. The technical success rate of endovascular treatment (EVT) was 95.8%. The mortality rate was 11.8%, being higher (21.2%) in the rupture group. Conclusions: The prompt treatment accomplished in our case granted a successful outcome. JA and IA aneurysms should be included among local complications of IBD. Considering their high potential for rupture, regardless of size, a low threshold for endovascular or surgical treatment should be applied.

Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for spleen preservation in laparoscopic splenic artery aneurysm resection: A case report

BACKGROUND

Splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) is a rare vascular lesion conventionally treated by resection or interventional therapy. The surgical procedure usually involves splenectomy, and interventional therapy may cause post-embolization syndromes. Preservation of the spleen and its function is rarely reported during the management of SAA.

CASE SUMMARY

We report a patient with an asymptomatic SAA (3.5 cm in diameter), which was en-bloc resected laparoscopically using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging to preserve the spleen and its function.

CONCLUSION

ICG fluorescence imaging for spleen preservation in laparoscopic SAA resection is safe and may be beneficial in avoiding splenectomy and maintaining splenic function.

Abdominal Aortic and Visceral Artery Aneurysms

Abdominal aortic aneurysms account for nearly 9000 deaths annually, with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms being the thirteenth leading cause of death in the United States. Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be detected by screening, but a majority are detected incidentally. Visceral artery aneurysms are often discovered incidentally, and treatment is guided by symptoms, etiology, and size. A timely diagnosis and referral to a vascular specialist are essential for timely open or endovascular repair and to ensure successful patient outcomes.

Evolving Diagnostic and Therapeutic Options for Visceral Artery Aneurysms

BACKGROUND

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) are associated with a very high mortality rate when ruptured and may present as a surgical emergency. Due to their rarity and varying pathophysiology, literature concerning the optimal management of VAAs is limited. This review evaluates the evolving management options for VAAs with a focus on open and endovascular repair.

METHODS

A combination of databases including OVID, PubMed and Medline were used to perform a literature search. Search terms employed include 'visceral artery aneurysms', 'angiography', '3D-volumetric rendering', 'management', 'open repair' and 'endovascular repair', amongst others.

RESULTS

3D modelling in conjunction with existing diagnostic techniques, such as computed tomography and angiography, may improve diagnostic sensitivity. The literature surrounding operative management of VAAs highlights the effectiveness of endovascular repair for anatomically suitable aneurysms. Advances in endovascular technologies may expand the type and number of aneurysms amenable to catheter-based treatment approaches. For aneurysms not amenable to endovascular treatment, or those with an emergency indication, open repair remains an appropriate management choice.

CONCLUSION

Although rare, VAAs pose a high mortality risk, especially when ruptured. Practical limitations that restrict current operative approaches may be overcome by recent developments including novel neurointerventional techniques that have been applied in VAA management.

Giant splenic artery aneurysm treated surgically with spleen and pancreas preservation

Aneurysms of the splenic artery represent a rare clinical entity, even though they account for 60-70% of all visceral artery aneurysms. Splenic artery aneurysms larger than 5 cm are extremely rare, and they are considered to be giant. Possible causes of splenic artery aneurysm development include: trauma, hormonal and local hemodynamic changes in pregnancy, portal hypertension, arterial degeneration, infection and postsplenectomy occurrence. Surgical treatment of giant splenic artery aneurysms includes procedures that frequently require pancreatectomy and splenectomy. We present a case of a 10.2 cm giant splenic artery aneurysm, firmly adhered to the pancreas, which was treated surgically, with spleen and pancreas preservation. SIMILAR CASES PUBLISHED: Although many cases on treatment of giant splenic artery aneurysm have been published, the majority have described additional visceral resections associated with aneurysmectomy, which is in contrast with our report. Furthermore, aneurysms reaching 10 cm in size were extremely rare.

Management and outcome of true visceral and renal artery aneurysm repair

Purpose

Visceral and renal artery aneurysms (VAA, RAA) are very rare pathologies. Both surgical and endovascular therapies are discussed as therapeutic options for ruptured and non-ruptured aneurysm repair; we describe our experience in the open and endovascular management of these entities.

Methods

Retrospective database analysis of 60 treated VAA and RAA in 59 patients between 1994 and 2020. Outcome data was descriptively analyzed.

Results

Thirty-seven aneurysms were surgically treated and 23 interventionally. In the total study cohort, we observed a mortality of 1.7% and a morbidity of 18.6%. One major complication occurred. The morbidity was higher after surgical repair in ruptured and non-ruptured cases. The mean aneurysm diameter was 30.5 ± 15.6 mm. Patients with hepatic or pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms presented more often in the stage of rupture, without differences in aneurysm size. The length of hospital stay after endovascular repair was significantly shorter compared to open surgical treatment (7.2 ± 6.9 days versus 11.8 ± 6.7 days, p = 0.014), but only in elective cases. Primary technical success was significantly better in patients that underwent surgical repair in an intention to treat analysis (100% versus 79.3%). The mean follow-up of the cohort was 53.5 months (range 3–207 months).

Conclusion

Elective endovascular therapy and open surgery of VAA and RAA are safe procedures with a good periprocedural and long-term outcome. Surgical revascularization showed a better primary technical success but was associated with longer length of hospital stays.

Surgical resection of a ruptured transverse pancreatic artery aneurysm

Background

Visceral artery aneurysms are rare, but they may cause heavy bleeding and high mortality. In addition, aneurysms originating from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) account for only 1% of visceral artery aneurysms. We report the rare case of a ruptured transverse pancreatic artery aneurysm originating from the SMA that required urgent surgical treatment.

Case presentation

A 66-year-old woman presented with acute back pain after lunch, and she was transported by ambulance. She had upper quadrant spontaneous pain and moderate tenderness, but no guarding or rebound pain. She had rheumatoid arthritis, and was taking 10 mg of steroids per day. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a retroperitoneal hematoma spreading to the ventral side of the left kidney and extravasation of contrast agent from a branch of the SMA. We diagnosed rupture of aneurysm. We conferred with our IVR team on treatment strategy for the ruptured aneurysm. In addition, we finally selected operation, since the branch of the SMA to the aneurysm was too thin and complex to conduct IVR. For this reason, we performed emergency simple aneurysmectomy of the transverse pancreatic artery. The postoperative course was relatively smooth.

Conclusion

Rupture of a transverse pancreatic artery aneurysm originating from the SMA is rare. However, when diagnosing patients with acute abdomen or back pain, we should consider rupture of a visceral artery aneurysm. Endovascular treatment may currently be common for ruptured visceral artery aneurysms, but we should flexibly treat them according to the patient’s condition and facility considerations.

Visceral artery aneurysm: an unusual cause of abdominal pain

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) are uncommon with an approximate incidence of 0.01%-0.2%. Gastroduodenal artery (GDA) aneurysm is a rare subtype of these uncommon visceral aneurysms that can be fatal if ruptured. We present a case of a 58-year-old Caucasian woman with a VAA and a large haematoma arising from an actively bleeding GDA. While patients with VAA may remain asymptomatic, with some of the aneurysms found incidentally during imaging, they may also present with abdominal pain, anaemia and possible multiorgan failure which may be fatal.

Natural History of Splanchnic Artery Aneurysms

INTRODUCTION

Splanchnic artery aneurysms (SAAs) represent a rare and potential life-threatening disease with a documented incidence of 0.1-2.0%. The risk of rupture and the diameter to recommend surgery are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to review surveillance computed tomography scans (CTs) at a high-volume institution in order to better define the natural history of the SAA.

METHODS

Between January 2000 and February 2019, all SAAs patients in follow-up at a single center institution were selected for analysis. CTs from patients managed nonoperatively and CTs before surgery from patients submitted to surgery were studied. The first CTs were used to determine aneurysm size, morphology, and anatomic characteristics, and the last CTs performed during nonoperative follow-up were used to compare the diameter with the previous CTs. Primary endpoint included growth rate for all SAAs location, and secondary endpoint included the clinical or anatomical characteristic associated with a faster growth rate.

RESULTS

In total, 116 consecutive patients were identified with SAAs and 74 patients with 87 SAAs who had at least 2 CTs during follow-up were analyzed. From those 74 patients, 12 were submitted to surgery and only their preoperative CTs were analyzed. The SAAs' locations were: splenic (55.4%), hepatic (12.2%), superior mesenteric artery (17.6%), celiac trunk (27.0%), gastric and gastroepiploic arteries (1.4%), pancreaticoduodenal and gastroduodenal arteries (4.1%). The median follow-up for all patients was 46.7 months (±35.3), and the median of growth for all aneurysms was 0.63 mm/year (±2.19). Only the splenic aneurysms presented growth with statistic significance of 1.08 mm per/year (±1.99) (P < 0.001). Only portal hypertension showed statistically significance to splenic aneurysm growth (P = 0.002). Multivariate analysis for variables associated with splenic aneurysm growth ≥1 mm/year showed that portal hypertension was the only variable with statistical significance (P < 0.01, IC 95% 2.0-186.9, β = 19.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Although longer-term follow-up and larger sample size are needed to better understand the natural history of SAAs, the majority of SAAs tends to remain stable in size through follow-up. Portal hypertension was the only risk factor found for true splenic aneurysm growth, and so those patients must have a closer follow-up.

[Case study of ruptured gastroduodenal artery aneurysm revealed by hematemesis]

L'anévrisme de l'artère gastroduodénale est une lésion vasculaire rare, asymptomatique dans la majorité des cas. Cependant, en cas de rupture de l’anévrisme, le pronostic est mauvais et la mortalité peut atteindre 40%. Nous rapportons le cas d’un patient âgé de 83 ans, qui a présenté brutalement des douleurs abdominales non spécifiques, associées à des hématémèses, et chez qui une fibroscopie a révélé une formation battante comprimant le bulbe duodénal avec un saignement actif, une tomodensitométrie abdominale a été réalisé et a mis en évidence un anévrisme de l’artère gastroduodénale englobant son ostium, et rendant une prise en charge endovasculaire impossible. Une chirurgie ouverte a donc été réalisée, et a consisté en une mise à plat associée à une exclusion de l’anévrisme, puis complétée par une plastie du bulbe. Une tomodensitométrie post-opératoire a confirmé l’exclusion totale de l’anévrisme avec la conservation de la circulation hépatique.

Surgical Treatment of Celiacomesenteric Trunk Aneurysm: Report of 2 Cases

BACKGROUND Celiac artery aneurysm is very rare, and even is more uncommon in patients with celiacomesenteric trunks. With recent developments in diagnostic imaging, the detection of asymptomatic abdominal visceral aneurysms has increased. However, some abdominal visceral aneurysms are still first discovered after a rupture. An abdominal visceral aneurysm rupture can occur suddenly and lead to shock due to intraperitoneal hemorrhage. Two cases of celiac artery aneurysms that involved common celiacomesenteric trunks are presented. CASE REPORT Case 1 was a 63-year-old man who was referred to our facility for further study after a routine abdominal ultrasound identified an aneurysm in the superior mesenteric artery. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a 39-mm aneurysm in the celiacomesenteric trunk and its branches. Case 2 was a 32-year-old man who was referred to our facility after an abdominal ultrasound performed during a physical examination revealed a celiac artery aneurysm. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a 31-mm aneurysm in the celiacomesenteric trunk and its branches. In both patients, the aneurysms were proximally located, and the distinctive anatomy of the celiacomesenteric trunk made endovascular treatment difficult. Open replacement and reconstructive surgery was performed to repair the aneurysms with grafts from the great saphenous vein. Both patients had uneventful postoperative courses. CONCLUSIONS The optimal treatment for the patients described was open surgical repair because the lower risk of occlusion of the visceral branch made it safer and more reliable than an endovascular approach.

Experience of managing superior mesenteric artery aneurysm and its midterm follow-up results with 18 cases

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the clinical features, treatment, and prognosis of superior mesenteric artery aneurysms and provide evidence for clinical decision-making.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the diagnosis and treatment of 18 cases of superior mesenteric artery aneurysm admitted to our center from 2003 to 2020, including demographic data, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment strategies, and follow-up results.

RESULTS

The average age of the patients was 49.1 years, and males accounted 83.3%. The development of the disease was associated with infection, hypertension, pancreatitis, and trauma, but no significant associations with atherosclerosis were noted by our results. Nine patients were diagnosed with true aneurysm, seven patients with pseudoaneurysm, and two patients with dissecting aneurysm. Rupture of aneurysm occurred in three patients (16.7%), and one of them died before surgery. The surgery success rate was 94.1%, and open surgery was performed on nine patients, endovascular surgery on three patients, and conservative treatment on three patients. The follow-up rate was 77.8% (14/18), and the average follow-up time was 48.2 months. The mortality and reintervention rate during follow-up was 0. The two-year patency rate of artificial vessels and covered stents was 50%.

CONCLUSION

The clinical manifestations and features of superior mesenteric artery aneurysms vary between patients. Careful evaluation of vascular anatomy and personalized treatment strategy are critical in the management of superior mesenteric artery aneurysms. Midterm follow-up results of superior mesenteric artery aneurysms are satisfactory.

"Renal emergencies: a comprehensive pictorial review with MR imaging"

Superior soft-tissue contrast and high sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting and characterizing disease may provide an expanded role in acute abdominal and pelvic imaging. Although MRI has traditionally not been exploited in acute care settings, commonly used in biliary obstruction and during pregnancy, there are several conditions in which MRI can go above and beyond other modalities in diagnosis, characterization, and providing functional and prognostic information. In this manuscript, we highlight how MRI can help in further assessment and characterization of acute renal emergencies. Currently, renal emergencies are predominantly evaluated with ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT) scanning. US may be limited by various patient factors and technologist experience while CT imaging with intravenous contrast administration can further compromise renal function. With the advent of rapid, robust non-contrast MRI, and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) imaging studies with short scan times, free-breathing techniques, and lack of ionization radiation, the utility of MRI for renal evaluation might be superior to CT not only in diagnosing an emergent renal process but also by providing functional and prognostic information. This review outlines the clinical manifestations and the key imaging findings for acute renal processes including acute renal infarction, hemorrhage, and renal obstruction, among other entities, to highlight the added value of MRI in evaluating the finer nuances in acute renal emergencies.

Presentation and Management of Rare Saccular Superior Mesenteric Artery Trunk and Branch Aneurysms

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) aneurysm is caused by degeneration of the visceral arteries. Although a rarely encountered entity, it requires timely management owing to the high mortality rate associated with rupture, particularly when the aneurysm is saccular in nature. As such, urgent treatment is generally indicated. We present five cases of SMA aneurysm arising from the main trunk or branches of the SMA.

Robotic Treatment of Complex Splenic Artery Aneurysms with Deep Hilar Location: Technical Insights and Midterm Results

BACKGROUND

Splenic artery aneurysms are rare, but their occurrence is burdened by considerable mortality and morbidity rates. Although the indications to treatment are quite clear-cut, there is still debate on the first-choice technique of treatment (endovascular, open, or laparoscopic surgery). Recently, robotic surgery has been proposed as an alternative option in patients at high surgical risk. The present case series aims to assess the value of robotic treatment of splenic artery aneurysms in patients unfit for surgery.

METHODS

All cases of splenic artery aneurysms treated by robotic surgery at our center between 2014 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary endpoints were clinical and technical success and disease-free survival.

RESULTS

Robotic surgery was used to treat four patients affected by splenic artery aneurysms, with the guidance of 3D printed patient-specific models. All patients, after aneurysm excision, received reconstruction of the splenic artery by direct anastomosis. All cases were treated successfully without mortality. Reintervention-free survival at 24-month mean follow-up is 100%, and no systemic complication of clinical relevance was reported. The mean time of organ ischemia was 45 min.

CONCLUSIONS

Robotic surgery is a safe and effective option in treating visceral aneurysms, providing the possibility to reconstruct the splenic artery after aneurysm excision.

A case of gastric pseudoaneurysm following endoscopic submucosal dissection of early gastric cancer

A woman in her 80s underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for a 20-mm-sized early gastric cancer lesion in the posterior wall of the upper gastric body. The lesion was resected en bloc with no adverse events. However, bleeding was observed in a post-ESD mucosal defect the day after ESD, so endoscopic hemostasis was performed. Moreover, hematemesis occurred 4 days after ESD, when the bleeding site showed a sign of pulsatile aneurysm. Therefore, endoscopic hemostasis was considered difficult, and angiographic treatment was chosen. Since angiography revealed a pseudoaneurysm in a portion of a branch of the left gastric artery, embolization with microcoils was performed. Thereafter, no bleeding occurred. To the best of our knowledge, there is no case report about the formation of a pseudoaneurysm in a post-gastric ESD mucosal defect. Thus, this case is being reported to document valuable information.

Current management strategies for visceral artery aneurysms: an overview

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) are rare and affect the celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery, and inferior mesenteric artery, and their branches. The natural history of VAAs is not well understood as they are often asymptomatic and found incidentally; however, they carry a risk of rupture that can result in death from hemorrhage in the peritoneal cavity, retroperitoneal space, or gastrointestinal tract. Recent advances in imaging technology and its availability allow us to diagnose all types of VAA. VAAs can be treated by open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, endovascular therapy, or a hybrid approach. However, there are still no specific indications for the treatment of VAAs, and the best strategy depends on the anatomical location of the aneurysm as well as the clinical presentation of the patient. This article reviews the literature on the etiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and anatomic characteristics of each type of VAA and discusses the current options for their treatment and management.

Maximizing Deceased-Donor Allograft Utilization: Management of a Celiac Artery Aneurysm in a Deceased-Donor Liver

As the scarcity of transplantable organs continues to rise, compounded with an aging donor population, transplant surgeons are increasingly confronted with organ offers from less than ideal donors. The presence of a celiomesenteric aneurysm involving the vascular supply of a donor allograft may predispose to vascular complications in the transplanted liver. We present a 61-year-old brain-dead donor who was discovered to have a celiac artery aneurysm during organ recovery. After gross atherosclerotic or mycotic involvement was ruled out and after careful consideration of the vascular reconstructive options, the donor common hepatic artery was divided distal to the aneurysmal dilatation and anastomosed to the recipient bifurcation of the left and right hepatic artery in an end-to-end beveled anastomosis. The postoperative course was unre-markable, with normal blood flow through the anastomosis and no significant com-plications. The recipient is doing well 6 months after transplant. The presence of a celiomesenteric aneurysm should not discourage the use of an otherwise adequate liver graft. Careful vascular reconstruction is encouraged to increase the rate of marginal graft utilization and minimize vascular complications. Liberal postoperative imaging can enable early detection of vascular com-plication and prompt intervention. Through this case, we demons-trate the remarkable potential of less-than-ideal grafts with acceptable posttransplant outcomes.

Visceral Artery Aneurysms: Decision Making and Treatment Options in the New Era of Minimally Invasive and Endovascular Surgery

The abdominal viscera blood supply is derived from anterior branches of the abdominal aorta. Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) include aneurysms of the following arteries and their branches: the celiac artery, the hepatic artery, the splenic artery, the superior mesenteric artery, the inferior mesenteric artery, the pancreaticoduodenal artery, and the gastroduodenal artery. Overall VAAs comprise < 2% of all types of arterial aneurysms. Asymptomatic VAAs are now being encountered more frequently due to the widespread use of advanced diagnostic abdominal imaging. The incidental finding of a VAA frequently leaves clinicians with a dilemma as to the best course of management. The focus of this review is on current treatment options and management guidelines for both symptomatic and asymptomatic VAAs.

Visceral artery aneurysms: evolving interdisciplinary management and future role of the abdominal surgeon

Background

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) are rare vascular lesions. Clinically silent VAA are increasingly detected by cross-sectional imaging but some lesions are at risk for rupture with severe bleeding. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the trends in the interdisciplinary management at a tertiary center.

Methods

Patients who underwent treatment for VAA at University Hospital of Bonn between 2005 and 2018 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Demographic, clinical, VAA-specific data as well as information on therapy, early and long-term outcome were collected and statistically analyzed.

Results

Forty-two consecutive patients, 19 females and 23 males with a median age of 59 years (range 30–91 years), were diagnosed with 56 VAA. The majority were true aneurysms (N = 32; 57%), whereas 43% (N = 24) were pseudoaneurysms. The most common localization was the splenic artery (N = 18; 32%) and the average diameter was 3 cm (range 1–5 cm). Twenty-five patients (59.5%) had VAA-related symptoms such as chronic abdominal pain and hemorrhage at primary diagnosis, while the diagnosis was incidental in 17 patients (40.5%). Eleven patients (26%) underwent open surgery whereas 29 patients (69%) received an endovascular treatment. Patients with pseudoaneurysms were significantly older (P = 0.003), suffered more often from associated symptoms (P < 0.001) and required more emergency interventions (P < 0.0001) compared to those with true VAA. In the last years, the number and proportion of true VAA increased significantly (P < 0.001) while a significantly larger proportion could be managed interventionally (P = 0.017).

Conclusions

VAA are increasingly detected on imaging with lesions presenting very heterogeneously. Due to the risk of lethal rupture and in the absence of reliable prognostic markers, all the patients with VAA should be offered definite treatment. Localization, anatomy and the end-organ perfusion after intervention or operation are the most important aspects to consider when planning a treatment for VAA. For this reason, a multidisciplinary evaluation of every individual patient is necessary for an optimized outcome.

Visceral Artery Aneurysms: Diagnosis, Surveillance, and Treatment

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) are a rare, but serious clinical entity as rupture confers a high rate of mortality. Data regarding the prevalence, treatment, and prognosis of VAAs is largely from case series, as true randomized trials are lacking. The incidence of VAAs has risen over the decades with advances in imaging technology, availability, and utilization. Even in the presence of symptoms, the prompt diagnosis of VAAs may be challenging as symptoms are often nonspecific and varied. Although there are no definitive treatment guidelines, asymptomatic VAAs require treatment in the following scenarios: when the aneurysm diameter is greater than 2 cm, when identified during pregnancy, when multiple aneurysms are present, and in the case of hepatic transplant. Similar to therapeutic trends in other vascular beds, advances in endovascular devices and techniques have driven an "endovascular first" approach for the treatment of VAAs. However, although the success rates of endovascular repair are impressive, surgical intervention is still necessary in treating centers. This paper reviews the pathophysiology, clinical features, anatomic characteristics, and management strategies required for the effective diagnosis and treatment of VAAs.

Myriad manifestations of infective endocarditis

Aneurysmal disease of the visceral arteries is rare, often found incidentally and carries significant mortality when ruptured. Of these, superior mesenteric artery (SMA) aneurysms represent a small minority of visceral artery aneurysms. This case highlights a man in his late 50s who presented to the emergency department with right upper quadrant and lower back pain. A CT scan revealed an aneurysm in the SMA. Increasing abdominal pain and increasing aneurysmal size with concurrent diagnosis of infective endocarditis suggestive of mycotic aneurysm prompted urgent treatment. The man was treated successfully by endovascular method.

Splenic Artery Aneurysm Treated With Endovascular Stent Grafting: A Case Report and Review of Literature

INTRODUCTION:

Although endovascular therapy is becoming an alternative to open surgical repair of splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs), reports on the use of stent grafts for SAA repair are limited. We present our experience of endovascular therapy using a stent graft for the treatment of an SAA that had ruptured into the gastric lumen. We also reviewed 18 cases of stent graft repair for SAAs, including the present case.

CASE REPORT:

A 43-year-old man was admitted due to hematemesis. Endoscopic examination and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a dissecting SAA that had ruptured into the stomach. Two 10 × 100 mm Viabahn (W.L. Gore, Flagstaff, Arizona) stent grafts were used to exclude the aneurysm. No complications occurred during the procedure. Although postoperative CT showed complete exclusion of the aneurysm, endoscopic examination showed a discharge of purulent matter from the aneurysm. Therefore, surgical debridement and omental implantation were added to avoid stent graft infection. Follow-up CT obtained 1 year later showed the residual aneurysm almost disappeared without any evidence of infection.

LITERATURE REVIEW:

A literature search in the PubMed database returned 17 cases with sufficient data. Review of these cases, together with the present case, revealed a 100% technical success rate, 11% splenic infarction rate, 94% graft patency rate, and 0% reintervention rate.

CONCLUSION:

Endovascular repair of SAAs using stent grafts appears to be safe and effective. In terms of preserving the blood flow and avoiding splenic infarction, it may be superior to coil embolization. Even in a case with aneurysm infection, stent graft repair may be an acceptable method to minimize invasion of concomitant surgical intervention.

Successful Resection and Vascular Ligation of a Large Hepatic Artery Aneurysm - A Case Report and Literature Review

The occurrence of hepatic artery aneurysms is rare and might be incidentally diagnosed, as the patient remains asymptomatic for a long period of time. However, due to the fact that these lesions are associated with a high risk of developing life threatening complications, such as intraperitoneal rupture, it has been stated that all cases should be submitted to treatment by endovascular or surgical approach. We present the case of a 68-year-old patient, who presented with recurrent upper digestive tract bleedings and was diagnosed with a large aneurysm of the common and the proper hepatic artery, and the gastroduodenal artery. The preoperative angiography revealed an anatomic variation consisting of the common hepatic artery originating from the celiac trunk, and the left hepatic artery originating from the left gastric artery. A percutaneous right portal vein embolization was performed in order to induce hypertrophy of the left lobe and prepare the patient for a right hepatectomy and aneurysmal resection. However, at the time of surgery, after performing the aneurysmal resection and arterial ligation, the vascular supply of the entire liver was efficiently provided by the left hepatic artery and its collaterals. Concluding, hepatic resection was no longer necessary.

Visceral artery aneurysms

Visceral artery aneurysms are rare with an incidence of only 0.01–0.1% of the population. Open surgical or endovascular elimination should be performed for aneurysms greater than 2 cm in size. The risk of aneurysm rupture is then approximately 25–40%. If the aneurysm ruptures the mortality can be as high as 76%. For mycotic aneurysms or spurious aneurysms there is no lower limit to the diameter size for the need of treatment. Sudden abdominal pain during pregnancy can be caused by visceral artery aneurysms and must be further clarified. The indications for surgery during pregnancy should be made generously. The clinical symptoms (abdominal complaints) of visceral artery aneurysms are manifold. The treatment can be either an open surgical approach or endovascular treatment. In the emergency setting, if endovascular treatment is no longer possible, an open surgical treatment needs to be performed. There are so far no randomized studies which could identify one of the procedures (open surgery vs. endovascular surgery) as clearly being superior. The prognosis after treatment is satisfactory with a 5–10 year survival rate of approximately 90%.

A rare case of non-traumatic acute intraabdominal hemorrhage: ruptured superior mesenteric artery aneurysm

INTRODUCTION

Rupture of superior mesenteric artery aneurysm (SMAA) is a very rare and life-threatening condition, presenting with acute intraabdominal hemorrhage.

CASE

The patient was hospitalized upon complaint of nonspecific severe abdominal pain. Diagnosis of SMAA was established by abdominal Doppler ultrasound that showed a pseudo-aneurysmal lesion with size of 76 × 47 mm at the superior mesenteric main branch. Endovascular stenting was not performed because of the wide neck in the segment of the jejunal branches from SMA and the risk of branch loss during treatment. On the second day of hospitalization, the patient developed an acute abdomen. At explorative laparotomy for intraabdominal bleeding, the root of superior mesenteric artery was immediately and temporarily clamped to provide bleeding control. Aneurysmal tissue was resected and affected part was repaired by Dacron prosthetic graft to maintain proximal and distal vascular continuum. Intestinal viability was preserved. The patient survived disease-free as verified by his 18-month postoperative physical examination.

CONCLUSIONS

The patient presents a very rare case showing ability to perform emergent intestine-sparing vascular surgery in ruptured SMAA. Surgery or endovascular treatment options should not be delayed especially in pseudo-aneurysms. It is critical to include ruptured SMAA in differential diagnosis of intraabdominal bleeding.

Morphological analysis using geometric parameters for splenic aneurysms

Background Considering the unique characteristics of splenic artery aneurysms, we hypothesized that hemodynamic forces could play an important role in splenic artery aneurysm formation and that splenic artery geometry should be correlated with aneurysm development. Methods Tortuosity of the splenic artery was evaluated three-dimensionally by calculating the curvature using software and the original modeling system. We selected 54 splenic artery aneurysm patients who had undergone thin-slice computed tomography imaging with contrast. We compared the splenic artery aneurysm group to non-vascular patients via propensity-score matching (35 patients in each group). The splenic artery length index, average curvature, and maximum curvature were analyzed. Results Splenic artery aneurysm patients tended to have a longer splenic artery and the curvature was more severe compared to the non-vascular control patients. The average curvature of splenic artery aneurysm patients was associated with the dilatation rate in female patients. Conclusion Females with a tortuous splenic artery may have an increased risk of aneurysm formation.

Aneurysm of the Anomalous Splenic Artery Arising from Superior Mesenteric Artery Treated by Coil Embolization: A Report of Two Cases and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Aneurysm of splenic artery (SA) which arises from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is a very rare condition. The aim of this study was to present our experience with 2 such patients treated by coil embolization.

METHODS

A 33-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman were incidentally identified with aneurysms of the SA which arose from the SMA. Endovascular therapy of coil embolization was chosen to treat the aneurysm.

RESULTS

Follow-up computed tomography showed no change in the location of the coils and occlusion of majority of the aneurysm sac. The 2 patients have been doing well during a 26-month and 10-month follow-up period, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined with the experience of the previous literature, we think coil embolization can be cost-effective and minimally invasive in selected cases, depending on the morphology and site of the lesion.

A rare case of spontaneous rupture of an aneurysm of the right gastric artery

•

We report here a rare case of intra-abdominal bleeding from a ruptured aneurysm of the right gastric artery.

•

Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) could not be adopted due to thrombotic occlusion of arteries, so we performed an urgent laparotomy.

•

We should not hesitate to convert endovascular approach into a laparotomy in an emergency situation.

Background

Visceral artery aneurysms at the origin of the gastric and gastroepiploic artery are uncommon. Raptured visceral aneurysms cause high mortality and require urgent and adequate intervention and treatment.

Presentation of case

A 65-year-old woman was transferred to the emergency department with sudden abdominal and back pain. Radiographically, we diagnosed intra-abdominal bleeding due to a ruptured aneurysm of the right gastric artery. Although her vital signs were relatively stable, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) could not be performed due to thrombotic occlusion of her abdominal aorta, and bilateral axillary arteries. She underwent an emergency laparotomy with ligation of the root of the right gastric artery and resection of the aneurysm, following which she showed good recovery. Histologically, the right gastric artery showed atherosclerosis with an organizing mural thrombus.

Discussion

Ruptured visceral aneurysms cause high mortality; therefore, rapid and adequate treatment is necessary. Achieving adequate transcatheter access might be difficult in some cases. In our case, we performed an emergency laparotomy and had good recovery.

Conclusion

We report and discuss the literature review for a rare case of intra-abdominal bleeding from a ruptured aneurysm of the right gastric artery which was difficult to be approache by TAE. In patients with unstable vital signs or in whom it is not possible to obtain a good laparoscopic view and clear operative field, we should not hesitate to convert the procedure into an open one, and perform an emergency laparotomy.

Endovascular Management of Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA) Aneurysm - Adequate Access is Essential for Success - Case Report

Background

An aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) with a diameter of 2.2 cm was found incidentally on an ultrasound (US) examination in a 26-year-old woman. The only known risk factor was an intracranial aneurysm that was found on her grandmother’s autopsy. Based on pregnancy planning and the current literature, endovascular management with a covered stent was proposed.

Case Report

Self-expandable, covered stent (Bard, Fluency^®) was implanted using a single transfemoral approach. A stiff guidewire and a large sheath distorted the anatomy, which resulted in an incomplete aneurysmal neck covering. In the absence of additional covered stents, the procedure was terminated. Two weeks later, computed tomographic angiography (CTA) confirmed persistent aneurysmal perfusion due to the incomplete neck coverage. A multidisciplinary board opted for a second endovascular attempt, this time with a longer covered stent via the transaxillary approach in order to reduce anatomical distortion. Balloon, expandable, cobalt-chrome covered stent (Jotec, E-ventus BX^®) was implanted in the SMA, covering the aneurysmal neck and overlapping the previously implanted covered stent. Angiography confirmed a complete exclusion of the aneurysm.

A control US performed three weeks later confirmed a patent covered stent and complete aneurysmal exclusion. There was a mild median nerve damage periprocedurally that resolved in three months. The most recent US control examination, performed eleven months after the procedure, showed an excluded aneurysm and a patent covered stent. There were no clinical signs of bowel ischaemia during the follow-up period.

Conclusions

Endovascular management of SMAA proved to be safe and efficient. The “access from above” is probably safer and should be considered in the majority of cases with acceptable sizes of access vessels. Mid-term results in our patient are good and life-long follow-up is planned to prevent late complications.

Vessel wall morphology is equivalent for different artery types and localizations of advanced human aneurysms

Aneurysm formation occurs most frequently as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), but is also seen in other localizations like thoracic or peripheral aneurysm. While initial mechanisms for aneurysm induction remain elusive, observations from AAA samples show transmural inflammation with proteolytic imbalance and repair mechanisms triggered by the innate immune system. However, limited knowledge exists about aneurysm pathology, especially for others than AAA. We compared 42 AAA, 15 popliteal, 3 ascending aortic, five iliac, two femoral, two brachial, one visceral and two secondary aneurysms to non-aneurysmatic controls by histologic analysis, immunohistochemistry and cytokine expression. Muscular and elastic type arteries show a uniform way of aneurysm formation. All samples show similar morphology. The changes compared to controls are distinct and include matrix remodeling with smooth muscle cell phenotype switch and angiogenesis, adventitial lymphoid cell accumulation and M1 macrophage homing together with neutrophil inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines are up-regulated accordingly. Comparative analysis of different disease entities can identify characteristic pathomechanisms. The phenotype of human advanced aneurysm disease is observed for elastic and muscular type arteries, does not differ between disease localizations and might, thus, be a unique response of the vasculature to the still unknown trigger of aneurysm formation.

Mini-Laparotomy for Superior Mesenteric Artery Aneurysm Due to Takayasu's Arteritis

Superior mesenteric artery aneurysm (SMAA) is reported to be the third-most common type of visceral aneurysm (VA), accounting for 5% of all VAs. The etiology of SMAA is commonly thought to be infection, and it usually exists in the proximal part of the superior mesenteric artery, which is suitable for endovascular treatment. We herein report an extremely rare case of the distal part of SMAA caused by Takayasu's arteritis (TA), which was successfully resected using a mini-laparotomy method without impairing the intestinal blood supply. A 51-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with sustained fever and lower back pain. Physical examination showed that she had a discrepancies in blood pressure between both arms. Contrast-enhanced whole-body computed tomography showed stenosis of the thoracic aorta and an aneurysm located in the distal part of the superior mesenteric artery. The diameter of the aneurysm was 4.5 cm. The aneurysm was resected via 4-cm mini-laparotomy, and the vascularity of the intestine was successfully preserved. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was diagnosed as having TA based on both clinical and pathologic findings. Additional corticosteroid therapy was started to treat the arteritis, and at 3-month follow-up she was without critical incidents. Mini-laparotomy is a safe and less-invasive approach to treat SMAA, especially when the lesion is located in the distal part of the artery.

Accuracy of contrast-enhanced ultrasound compared with conventional ultrasound in acute pancreatitis: Diagnosis and complication monitoring

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) has been used for diagnosing acute pancreatitis (AP), particularly severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). However, the diagnostic difference between CEUS and conventional ultrasonography (CUS) for AP and SAP has not been reported. The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of CUS and CEUS for AP. A total of 196 patients clinically diagnosed with AP were selected. All patients underwent CUS, CEUS and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) within 72 h. CECT was considered the gold standard. Pancreatic size, peripancreatic fluid collection (PPFC) and splenic vessel complications were the variables observed by CUS and CEUS. The differences in the variables among the three methods were analyzed using the χ² test and statistical analysis software. Significant differences in pancreatic size, PPFC and splenic vessel complications in AP were observed between CEUS and CUS (P<0.05). χ² test results indicated that CEUS significantly differed from CUS in terms of having a higher diagnostic accuracy for AP and SAP (P<0.05). The results indicate that CEUS is a reliable method for the diagnosis and monitoring of AP and SAP, and may be substituted for CECT.

Visceral Artery Aneurysms: A Symptomatic Aneurysm of the Ileocolic Artery

Visceral artery aneurysm is a rare but clinically important form of vascular pathology, showing a high mortality rate in emergency surgery. Most often these aneurysms cause no symptoms and are therefore incidental findings. Reports on ileocolic artery aneurysms are rare and often anecdotal. Therapeutic procedures can be performed either surgically or by interventional therapeutic techniques. This article presents a case of ruptured ileocolic artery aneurysm and reviews the literature on this topic.