Spontaneous cystic artery rupture: a rare cause of haemoperitoneum

Pediatric cystic artery pseudoaneurysm embolization

Cystic artery pseudoaneurysm is an exceedingly rare complication of biliary interventions, such as cholecystectomy, or cholecystitis [1]. Prompt intervention is often required due to their predisposition to bleeding. Ideal diagnosis and treatment would have the patient go directly to Interventional Radiology for angiography and embolization, followed by a short interval cholecystectomy [2, 3]. However, due to their low incidence patients often undergo several less invasive diagnostic tests prior to diagnosis [4]. Here we describe what we believe is the first reported pediatric case of a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to cholecystitis.

Transarterial catheter embolisation for an unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage

A 72-year-old man with a history of gallstones, and complex cardiac and endocrinological comorbidities, presented with severe abdominal pain and melaena. CT mesenteric angiogram showed a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm and gallbladder distended by haematoma. Subsequent mesenteric angiography confirmed a cystic artery pseudoaneurysm, which was successfully embolised with microcoils. The patient made a rapid recovery and was discharged after 3 days.

Emergency cholecystectomy and hepatic arterial repair in a patient presenting with haemobilia and massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage due to a spontaneous cystic artery gallbladder fistula masquerading as a pseudoaneurysm

BACKGROUND

Haemobilia usually occurs secondary to accidental or iatrogenic hepatobiliary trauma. It can occasionally present with cataclysmal upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage posing as a life threatening emergency. Haemobilia can very rarely be a complication of acute cholecystitis. Here we report a case of haemobilia manifesting as massive gastrointestinal haemorrhage in a patient without any prior history of biliary surgery or intervention and present a brief review of literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 22 year old male admitted with history suggestive of acute cholecystitis subsequently developed waxing waning jaundice and recurrent episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleed. Endoscopy showed an ulcer in the first part of duodenum with a clot, no active bleed was visible. Angiography was suggestive of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm in the vicinity of the right hepatic artery probably originating from the cystic artery. Coil embolization was tried but the coil dislodged into the right branch of hepatic artery distal to the site of pseudoaneurysm. Review of angiographic video in light of operative findings demonstrated a fistulous communication between cystic artery and gallbladder as the cause, a simultaneous cholecystoduodenal fistula was also noted. Retrograde cholecystectomy, closure of cholecystoduodenal fistula and right hepatic arteriotomy with retrieval of the endo-coil and hepatic arterial repair was performed.

CONCLUSION

Fistula between the cystic artery and gallbladder has been commonly reported to occur after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Spontaneous fistulous communication, i.e. in the absence of any prior trauma or intervention, between cystic artery and gallbladder is rare with very few reports in literature. Aetiopathogenesis of the disease, in the context of current literature is reviewed. The diagnostic dilemma posed by the confounding finding of an ulcer in the duodenum, the iconic video angiographic depiction as also the therapeutic challenge of a failed embolization with consequent microcoil migration and primary hepatic arterial repair in the emergency situation is discussed.