Successful management of eleven splanchnic artery aneurysms

• Published in: The European journal of surgery Vol. 163; no. 6; p. 411
• Main Authors: Røkke, O, Søndenaa, K, Amundsen, S R, Bjerke Larssen, T, Jensen, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.1997
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aneurysm - etiology; Aneurysm - surgery; Aneurysm - therapy; Aneurysm, False - surgery; Aneurysm, False - therapy; Aneurysm, Ruptured - therapy; Arteries; Embolization, Therapeutic; Female; Hepatic Artery; Humans; Jejunum - blood supply; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Splanchnic Circulation; Splenic Artery
• ISSN: 1102-4151

To describe our experience with the management of aneurysms of the splanchnic arteries. Retrospective study. Teaching hospital, Norway. Eleven consecutive patients with aneurysms of the splanchnic arteries treated between 1986 and 1996, six of them between 1994 and 1996. Four aneurysms were hepatic (37%), two splenic (18%), one coeliac (9%), one gastroepiploic (9%), one pancreaticoduodenal (9%), one superior mesenteric (9%), and one jejunal (9%). Five were pseudoaneurysms (46%). Six patients (55%) were treated by operation, four (36%) by embolisation and one (9%) expectantly. The pathogenesis was inflammatory (acute pancreatitis, anastomotic leak) in four patients (36%), athero-sclerotic in three (27%), arterial infusion of cytotoxic drugs in one (9%), and unknown in four (36%). Seven patients (64%) presented with rupture, two (18%) with other symptoms, and two patients (18%) were diagnosed incidentally. There was no mortality. There may be an increased incidence in splanchnic artery aneurysms, particularly those created by inflammatory lesions. The diagnosis should be suspected if acute bleeding occurs during the course of severe intra-abdominal inflammation. Arteriography should be used to diagnose an aneurysm in haemodynamically stable patients. Control of bleeding is obtained either by transarterial catheter embolisation or by operation.