Hemobilia and cystic artery stump pseudoaneurysm associated with liver abscess after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Report of a case

• Published in: Surgery today (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 567 - 571
• Main Authors: Nakase, Yuen, Takagi, Tsuyoshi, Fukumoto, Kanehisa, Kassai, Kyoichi, Yamagami, Takuji, Itani, Kenji, Miyagaki, Takuya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01.06.2008
• Subjects: Amputation Stumps; Aneurysm, False - etiology; Aneurysm, False - therapy; Case Report; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic - adverse effects; Cystic Duct - blood supply; Embolization, Therapeutic; Female; Hemobilia - etiology; Hepatic Artery; Humans; Liver Abscess - etiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Postoperative Complications; Surgery; Surgical Oncology; Embolization; Liver abscess; Hemobilia; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Pseudoaneurysm
• ISSN: 0941-1291; 1436-2813
• DOI: 10.1007/s00595-007-3663-9

A 63-year-old woman was admitted for cholecystitis and underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). She experienced abdominal pain and hemobilia 11 days after the LC. Angiography was performed but it did not show any source of bleeding. Thereafter, at 27 days after LC, a repeat angiogram was performed which revealed a pseudoaneurysm (PA) arising from a cystic artery stump and an embolized PA sack. However, another PA arising from near the embolized PA and liver abscess was observed 4 days after embolization. The arterial collateral flow was evaluated by endovascular balloon occlusion of the right hepatic artery and it was embolized proximal and distal to the bleeding point. The embolization of the partial hepatic artery was effective for PA when packing the PA sack proved to be insufficient. In patients with liver cirrhosis or liver abscess who require an adequate arterial liver flow, it is important to evaluate the collateral arterial flow before hepatic artery embolization.