Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm as a cause of gastrointestinal system bleeding: a case report with a brief review of the literature

• Published in: The Turkish journal of gastroenterology Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 784 - 787
• Main Authors: Ünalp, Ömer Vedat, Karaca, Can Avni, Sezer, Taylan Özgür, Yenıay, Levent, Sözbılen, Murat, Çoker, Ahmet
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey 01-12-2012
• Subjects: Aneurysm, False - complications; Aneurysm, False - pathology; Female; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - etiology; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage - pathology; Hepatic Artery - pathology; Humans; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 1300-4948; 2148-5607
• DOI: 10.4318/tjg.2012.0444

A hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is, by definition, a pulsatile hematoma due to a leakage of blood through a tear or disruption of the arterial wall, and the blood is contained only by the hepatic parenchyma or surrounding hematoma. It can be a very rare cause of gastrointestinal system bleeding. These pseudoaneurysms are usually very well managed by angiographic intervention. However, in some cases, surgery is inevitable. Herein, we present a 63-year-old female presenting with gastrointestinal system bleeding 45 days after surgery for cholangiocarcinoma. She was found to be bleeding from a pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery and underwent surgical intervention.