Operative Management of an Aberrant Splenic Artery Aneurysm: Utility of the Medial Visceral Rotation Approach

Successful laparoscopic arterial ligation of splenic artery aneurysm with a splenomesenteric trunk: a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

The mortality rate of splenic artery aneurysm rupture is very high, and patients with aneurysms larger than 30 mm are recommended for treatment, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms. We herein report a case of splenic artery aneurysm with an abnormal bifurcation that was treated with laparoscopic ligation of the splenic artery.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 51 year-old Japanese male was referred to our hospital because a splenic artery aneurysm was noted on abdominal echocardiography during a medical examination. The splenic artery bifurcated from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and a 38-mm splenic artery aneurysm was found just after the bifurcation; thus, surgery was performed. Intraoperative angiography was performed, a balloon catheter was placed before the splenic artery bifurcation, and laparoscopic splenic artery ligation was performed to prepare for sudden bleeding. After ligation of the splenic artery, angiography was performed again to confirm the absence of the splenic artery aneurysm and that the peripheral splenic artery was visible through the peripheral collateral vessels. The patient was discharged on the fourth postoperative day, with good progress. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography performed 1 month postoperatively confirmed the disappearance of the splenic artery aneurysm, and the contrast-enhanced peripheral splenic artery was visible.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of a safe laparoscopic artery ligation procedure for a splenic artery aneurysm with an abnormal splenic artery bifurcation from the SMA, in which a balloon catheter was placed at the splenic artery bifurcation.

Endovascular Strategies and Outcomes for Aberrant Splenic Artery Aneurysms

OBJECTIVES

Aberrant splenic artery aneurysms (ASAAs) located at the splenomesenteric trunk (SMT) and the celiacomesenteric trunk have a close anatomical relationship with the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). The aim of this study was to review our institutional experience of endovascular treatment for ASAAs and evaluate the long-term outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with ASAAs who underwent endovascular treatment between December 2006 and December 2022 was performed. The demographics of the patients, aneurysm characteristics, treatment strategies, perioperative and long-term outcomes, and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 29 patients with ASAAs were endovascularly treated at our institution. The SMT variant occurred in the majority of the patients. All ASAAs were characterized by eccentric growth and extremely short inflow arteries. Only 1 patient's inflow artery of the aneurysm exceeded 1 cm in length. Thirteen patients were treated by coil embolization alone. Four patients received bare stent-assisted coil embolization. A combination of coil embolization and covered stent placement across the orifice of the aberrant splenic artery was performed in the remaining 12 cases. Coil migration into the SMA occurred in 2 patients during the operation. Technical success was achieved in all patients. With a median duration of 63 (34-101) months of follow-up, no intestinal ischemia, aneurysm-related death, aneurysm rupture, or sac enlargement occurred. Three cases of aneurysm sac reperfusion were observed, and 1 patient underwent reintervention with secondary embolization. Asymptomatic occlusion of the covered stent was detected in 1 patient at 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular treatment is a safe, effective, and durable option for ASAAs. Inflow embolization might be difficult to achieve in ASAAs and poses a high risk of coil migration into the SMA. Long-term observation indicates that reasonable use of the covered stent could achieve reliable inflow artery exclusion in ASAAs without intestinal complications.

CLINICAL IMPACT

Aberrant splenic artery aneurysm (ASAA) is an extremely rare entity. This study reported a large sample size of ASAAs treated by endovascular techniques with long-term follow-up. The ASAA was characterized by an extremely short inflow artery and a close anatomical relationship with the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Endovascular treatment is a safe, effective, and durable option for ASAAs. Inflow embolization might be difficult to achieve in ASAAs and pose a high risk of coil migration into the SMA. Long-term observation indicates that reasonable use of the covered stent could achieve reliable inflow artery exclusion in ASAAs without intestinal complications.

Endovascular coil embolization for an anomalous splenic artery aneurysm with a splenomesenteric trunk

We present a case of a splenic artery (SA) aneurysm (SAA) that had arisen abnormally from the superior mesenteric artery in a 63-year-old man who underwent successful endovascular treatment. Although SAAs characterized by this anatomic abnormality are rare, in all 46 reported cases, the SAAs were located at the root of the SA and had originated abnormally from the superior mesenteric artery. This location is different from that of orthotopic SAAs, which are mostly located in the distal third of the SA. The differences in hemodynamics due to the anatomic abnormalities might play an important role in the formation of the anomalous SAAs.

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.

Successful treatment of aberrant splenic artery aneurysm with a combination of coils embolization and covered stents

BACKGROUND

Aneurysms of an aberrant splenic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are extremely rare; however, they are clinically important because possible rupture could be catastrophic. The methods of treatment for this condition include surgical resection, minimally invasive techniques (include laparoscopic technique) and endovascular therapy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of coils embolization combined with covered stents to treat aberrant splenic artery aneurysm (SAA).

CASES PRESENTATION

We report four consecutive cases of aberrant SAA that the aberrant splenic artery was embolized with coils and the superior mesenteric artery was excluded with a covered stent and an up-to-date review of all previous cases in the field. A follow-up computed tomography performed 6 to 12 months postoperatively showed persistent exclusion with marked shrinkage of the aneurysm sac.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors believe although early results are promising, further careful follow-up will be needed to determine the long-term clinical efficacy, safety and applicability of this approach.

Anomalous splenic artery aneurysm

Aneurysms of the splenic artery are the most common visceral aneurysm. A splenomesenteric trunk, which involves the splenic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), is rare and occurs in less than 1% of patients. Thus splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs) with an anomalous origin from the SMA are quite rare. We report our experience with the surgical management of a 2.6-cm aneurysm involving a splenic artery arising from the SMA in a 40-year-old woman. This was treated with surgical resection with preservation of the spleen. A discussion about SAAs and the management of aneurysms arising from a splenomesenteric trunk follows.

Visceral artery aneurysms: evaluation using 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography

OBJECTIVE

Visceral artery aneurysms are uncommon, but they are clinically important because of the high incidence of rupture and life-threatening hemorrhage. Visceral artery aneurysms in patients with vascular anatomic variations are extremely rare, but detecting these variations is significant in this setting to determine the best treatment strategy; therefore, a thorough assessment of the aneurysm and of the vascular anatomy before treatment is paramount.

CONCLUSION

Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MR angiography is a noninvasive technique for the diagnosis and display of visceral artery aneurysms. It can provide 3D anatomic information that is needed for surgery or embolization.