Endovascular embolization of a giant hepatic artery aneurysm

Surgical treatment for common hepatic aneurysm. Original one-step technique

Introduction

Hepatic artery aneurysms are rare, and their treatment represents a challenge for the surgeons.

Materials and methods

A new technique is presented for common hepatic artery (CHA) aneurysm: it requires minimal vascular surgical dissection and only one linear vascular stapler is applied at the bottom of aneurysm. Aneurysm exclusion is easily obtained, which allowed retrograde thrombosis. Liver blood supply is ensured to the right and left hepatic artery, through the gastroduodenal artery, and can be previously monitored, with temporary clamping of the section area, by visual control, enzyme evaluation and intraoperative ultrasound examination. We reported an open surgical treatment, with simultaneous removal of hepatic and adrenal metastases, secondary to colon cancer.

Results

The duration of vascular surgery was 30 min and did not involve complications. Postoperative controls confirmed the efficacy of the procedure.

Discussion

This original technique can be added to the various open and endovascular techniques so far described for the treatment of a CHA aneurysm. It is advisable as open surgery, mostly in case of associated pathologies.

Conclusions

The authors believe that this "one shot" technique by vascular staple of the distal part of CHA is minimally invasive and effective to obtain the exclusion of the aneurysm.

Giant Hepatic Artery Aneurysm

Hepatic artery aneurysm (HAA) is the second most common type of visceral aneurysm. Giant HAAs (larger than 5 cm) are very rare. We present a case of an asymptomatic giant hepatic artery aneurysm (diameter 10.7 cm) discovered as an incidental finding on an ¹⁸F-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT) scan of a patient admitted for pretreatment staging of urothelial carcinoma.