Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Research Articles

Systematic review of extrahepatic hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm following adult liver transplantation: Risk factors and treatment modalities.

Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (HAP) is a rare vascular complication following liver transplantation (LTx) with treatment choice frequently driven by institutional experience. Approximately, 10% of hepatic grafts are lost from this complication, requiring re-transplantation and placing further demand on the already present organ shortage. Secondly, patients with HAP can present with catastrophic bleeding, with reported mortality of up to 78%. We aim to identify risk factors associated with HAP and assess the survival benefit of different treatment modalities used (endovascular and open surgical techniques). Early detection may facilitate semi-elective management of this condition. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Medline and Embase up to 1 October 2023. Case series with ≥5 patients focusing on adult patients who developed extrahepatic pseudoaneurysm following LTx were included. A total of 11 studies were pooled, comprising of 118 patients with survival data available in 61 patients. The most common presentation was haemorrhagic shock or luminal haemorrhage (75.5%). Bile leak was documented in 66.7% (28/42), 15.2% (18/118) associated foregut pathologies and 28.6% (14/49) of microbiology cultures grew a fungal organism. Flow preserving strategies (stenting, revascularization) trended towards better survival at 120 months compared to non-flow preserving strategies (embolization, HAL); however, this was not statistically significant following log rank (Mantel-Cox) analysis (P 0.169). Any patient following LTx presenting with haemorrhagic shock or luminal bleeding needs HAP excluded urgently. HAP management is complex, requiring careful consideration of patient specific presentation, anatomic factors and associated pathologies.

Case Report: When Arteries Betray: Massive Post-transplantation Hemorrhage

Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication that may occur in the setting of liver transplantation and other traumatic instrumentation of the hepatobiliary system. This condition poses a significant morbidity and mortality risk and must be diagnosed and intervened upon emergently. Herein we present a case of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm complicated by hemorrhagic shock in the setting of a post-liver transplant biliary leak. In this case, the patient was ultimately diagnosed via hepatic angiogram, treated with hepatic artery embolization, and required subsequent retransplantation. The objective of this case was to demonstrate the importance of maintaining a high clinical suspicion for hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm in the post-transplant setting, emphasize the use of computed tomography angiography as a primary diagnostic tool, and involving interventional radiology early in the treatment course.

Endovascular Treatment of Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm after Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Literature Review.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is a complex surgical procedure performed in patients with periampullary tumors located within the pancreatic head, the papilla of Vater, the distal common bile duct, and the duodenum. In advanced tumors, the operative technique involves the need for dissection and divestment of the arteries located within the pancreaticoduodenal field, including the common hepatic artery (CHA) and the proper hepatic artery (PHA) and its branches. The second most important cause of post-PD visceral aneurysms is irritation of the peri-pancreatic arterial wall by pancreatic juice in a postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF). Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (HAP) is a very dangerous condition because it is usually asymptomatic, but it is a rare and potentially lethal pathology because of the high risk of its rupture. Therefore, HAP requires treatment. Currently, selective celiac angiography is the gold-standard diagnostic and therapeutic management for postoperative bleeding and pseudoaneurysm in patients following PD. Open surgery and less invasive endovascular treatment are performed in patients with HAP. Endovascular treatment involves transarterial embolization (TAE) and stent graft implantation. The choice of treatment method depends on the general and local conditions, such as the patient's hemodynamic stability and arterial anatomy. In patients in whom preservation of the flow within the hepatic artery (to prevent hepatic ischemia complications such as liver infarction, abscess, or failure) is needed, stent graft implantation is the treatment of choice. This article focuses on a review of two common methods for endovascular HAP treatment. In addition, risk factors and diagnostic tools have been described.

Role of Interventional Radiology in the Management of Liver Transplant Complications in Children

AbstractLiver transplantation (LT) is a common solid organ transplant in the pediatric population. The common indications for LT, as well as its complications, differ between adults and children. This difference necessitates unique pediatric interventional radiology (IR) interventions. This article focuses on unique vascular complications occurring post-pediatric LT and highlights the importance of IR in their management. It explores IR's involvement in the workup of patients' pre-LT and management of complications following portosystemic shunts. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of different access routes as well as the prevalence, clinical picture, diagnosis, and management of complications after pediatric LT. These complications encompass portal vein stenosis, portal vein thrombosis, hepatic artery stenosis, hepatic artery thrombosis, hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm, arterioportal fistula, hepatic vein stenosis, and inferior vena cava stenosis. The choice of endovascular technique for a clinical indication depends on vascular anatomy, time since LT, and patient-specific factors. Transsplenic access is a useful alternative to transhepatic or transjugular access. The decision to place a stent in a child is influenced by the expected growth of the child and risk of focal narrowing at stent edge (because of recipient growth). Technical challenges in pediatric patient management, including uncooperative patients and sedation issues, must be considered. Pediatric LT complications can present with significant challenges in the posttransplant care of recipients and may lead to serious morbidity and graft failure if not managed effectively. IR techniques like balloon angioplasty, stent placement, thrombolysis, and embolization have demonstrated success in treating these complications, improving patient outcomes, and reducing long-term morbidity and mortality. By enhancing the understanding of medical practitioners and interventional radiologists about complex vascular complications, this article aims to contribute to better posttransplant care and improved outcomes for LT in pediatric populations. Continued collaboration between specialties and research will advance the field of pediatric LT and IR, to create even more effective treatment strategies.

Hemobilia due to hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm fistulizing with the common bile duct following liver transplantation

Hemobilia due to hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm fistulizing with the common bile duct following liver transplantation

Successful peroral cholangioscopic extraction of migrated endovascular coils into the bile ducts 2 years following right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm endovascular treatment

Successful peroral cholangioscopic extraction of migrated endovascular coils into the bile ducts 2 years following right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm endovascular treatment

Endovascular management of a ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after liver transplantation presenting as hemobilia

Vascular and biliary complications can still occur among liver transplants despite advances in surgical technique and immunosuppression. Rupture of a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare but lethal complication after liver transplantation and often manifests as acute gastrointestinal bleeding. It occurs in < 3% of cases with an associated mortality as high as 50% especially if diagnosed late. A high index of suspicion may decrease consequent morbidities and potential graft loss. Infection and type of biliary anastomosis are commonly identified risk factors in the development of a pseudoaneurysm. Angiography usually identifies the location which is commonly at the site of anastomosis. Frequent management options include surgical revascularization requiring re-operation or endovascular intervention with the use of coils and stents. No consensus yet as to the standard treatment has been established. We present a case of a 40-year-old male having a ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm with an arteriobiliary fistula after performing a deceased donor liver transplant managed with endovascular placement of a stent. Patient remains asymptomatic with patent hepatic artery after 6 months of follow-up.

A Case Series on Transarterial Embolization in Treatment of Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm (Indian perspective) - our experience in a Single Institute (Centre of Excellence)

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the role of transarterial embolization in hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm (HAP) in the Indian population with an analysis of cases done in our hospital in 1 year. Materials and Methods: We searched our database on the computer of the School of Digestive and Liver Disease (SDLD) for cases of HAP within the last 1 year (from May 2021 to April 2022) and then reviewed in detail, examining causes, clinical data, laboratory data, treatment given, and any intervention and if yes then its complications and outcome. We then analyzed all the data from the perspective of the Indian population and compared them with those of previous literature. Result: Eight patients of HAP were found during investigations, who were admitted to SDLD. Another two patients were referred from another department to GI Radiology of SDLD. Causes were identified as blunt trauma abdomen, chronic pancreatitis, liver biopsy, and liver abscess, with blunt trauma being the most common cause. We found two HAPs in the extra-hepatic location, whereas in the rest of the cases, it was intra-hepatic. Among them, the left hepatic artery was involved in one patient and the right hepatic artery was involved in two patients. All the patients were evaluated carefully by both ultrasonography (USG) and tri-phasic computed tomography of the liver. We successfully embolized all of the total 10 patients of HAP in the last 1 year; however, one patient died due to sepsis. Each patient was followed up by USG. Conclusion: HAP is a complication related to blunt injury abdomen, pancreatitis, and post-surgical cases, which should be treated promptly. It can be deadly if left untreated. Successful and prompt intervention can provide good outcomes for these patients and prevent rupture-related complications.

Right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after laparoscopic biliary surgery: a case report

Right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm after laparoscopic biliary surgery: a case report

Late-onset Rupture of the Intrahepatic Pseudoaneurysm Developed by Endoscopic Ultrasonography-guided Hepaticogastrostomy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Endoscopic ultrasonography-guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS-HGS) has emerged as an alternative drainage technique for patients with malignant biliary obstruction. However, few reports have discussed the occurrence of late-onset rupture of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms following EUS-HGS. A recently available drill dilator equipped with a long screw segment was used in the dilation step of EUS-HGS. We highlight the potential concern that this long screw segment may increase the risk of damage to the hepatic artery, leading to late-onset life-threatening rupture of a pseudoaneurysm.

Delayed appearance of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and an arterio-biliary fistula secondary to biliary leakage and bilioma formation in a liver trauma patient and its management through transarterial embolization

BackgroundPseudoaneurysm and arterio-biliary fistulas are infrequent complications of surgery or iatrogenic trauma, accidental trauma, tumors, vascular malformations, infection, and inflammation of the biliary tract. In a liver trauma patient, they evolve immediately secondary to direct vascular injury and usually present with either drop in hemoglobin level or hemobilia due to bleeding into the peritoneal space or biliary system. In the present case, there were no clinical features of hemobilia or upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Moreover, the hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and arterio-biliary fistula evolved after a latent period of a few weeks, secondary to the toxic effects of the bile on the vessel walls due to biloma formation or biliary leakage, which is exceptionally uncommon.Case presentationThis 19-year-old male presented with a severe liver injury complicated by forming a biloma, followed by the development of a pseudoaneurysm and an arterio-biliary fistula. The appropriate hepatic artery branch was successfully embolized using an endovascular approach.ConclusionsIn a liver trauma patient, the latency period for developing a pseudoaneurysm and an arterio-biliary fistula can be from a few days to a few months due to direct vascular injury or toxic effects of the bile on the adjacent vessel walls secondary to bile leakage. Development of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and an arterio-biliary fistula after a latent period of a few weeks, secondary to the toxic effects of the bile on the vessel walls due to biloma formation or biliary leakage, is exceptionally uncommon. So, these liver trauma patients require close monitoring and follow-up for early detection and treatment of pseudoaneurysm and arterio-biliary fistula, especially when there are clinical or imaging features of bile leakage or biloma formation. Endovascular treatment of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and arterio-biliary fistulas is a safe and effective method.

S3618 Recurrent Bacteremia and Cholangitis from Eroded Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Coil into the Common Bile Duct: A Rare Indication for Liver Transplantation

S3618 Recurrent Bacteremia and Cholangitis from Eroded Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Coil into the Common Bile Duct: A Rare Indication for Liver Transplantation

C4 (Clinical Case) Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in the Paediatric Population: A Case Report of an Internal Bleed Caused by Ruptured Pseudoaneurysm

Abstract Introduction/Background Ehlers-Danols syndrome (EDS) is a connective tissue disease characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility and tissue fragility. EDS has six types. Type IV EDS: vascular EDS (vEDS), is rare but also the most malignant. Case Description We report a 15-year-old boy with a previous history of spontaneous colon perforation and two left shoulder dislocations. He presented with sudden onset abdominal pain, vomiting, dizziness, and lethargy with a Glasgow coma scale of 13. His abdomen was soft but mildly tender. He had a capillary refill of 3 seconds with cold extremities, was found to be in a hypotensive shock state requiring resuscitation with fluids and inotropes, as well as intubation and mechanical ventilation. His hemoglobin dropped by 30 g/L in 6 hours. Therefore, an abdominal ultrasound was done, revealing an intrabdominal hematoma. CT scan of the abdomen confirmed a ruptured fusiform pseudoaneurysm of the accessory left hepatic artery. This was successfully managed by coil embolization, see F1 and F2, below. Genetic workup was positive for the pathogenic COL3A1 gene that presents phenotypically as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, particularly type IV. Discussion COL3A1 encodes pro-alpha1 chains of type III collagen. Inheritance is autosomal-dominant. It can present as a de novo variant with a negative family history, as was the situation for our patient. Estimated affected people with de novo variant vEDS is 33%-50%. Clinical diagnosis of vEDS involves one major and several minor criteria (2017). Major criteria include arterial aneurysms, dissection, or rupture; intestinal rupture; uterine rupture during pregnancy; family history of vEDS. Minor criteria include easy bruising; thin skin and visible veins; facial characteristics including prominent eyes, narrow nasal bridge, thin lips; club foot, congenital hip dislocation; inguinal hernia and pneumothorax. Our patient had two elements from the major criteria: arterial pseudoaneurysm and intestinal rupture. Conclusion vEDS has high morbidity and mortality due to the risk of spontaneous internal organ/vessel injury. This can be mitigated by increased awareness of systemic manifestations of vEDS and a high index of suspicion by both primary care and emergency physicians. Once diagnosed, surveillance is crucial, including regular blood pressure monitoring, frequent non-invasive imaging to identify emerging vascular lesions, and pregnancy counselling for potential uterine rupture and avoiding trauma, collision sports, and lifting heavy items.

Proper Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Treated by Endovascular Stent.

Proper Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm Treated by Endovascular Stent.

Successful endovascular embolization of the common hepatic artery for pseudoaneurysm associated with pancreatic fistula after liver transplantation: a case report

BackgroundAfter orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), complications such as hepatic artery stenosis, thrombosis, and bleeding are possible. Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms (HAP) are prone to rupture, rupture hemorrhage, and increased mortality risk. Endovascular treatment of HAP may result in recurrence, even after successful embolization with thrombin. Formation of a HAP in the common hepatic artery (CHA) is challenging because the CHA is the only artery in the liver graft after OLT. Therefore, CHA embolization in HAP is not an initial option. We report a case of HAP at the CHA after OLT that was treated with endovascular therapy, resulting in the occlusion of the CHA with coil embolization, achieving a radical cure.Case presentationA 59-year-old man with decompensated hepatitis C virus cirrhosis underwent deceased donor whole-liver transplantation after graft failure of a living donor liver transplantation. After the second transplantation, the patient developed infectious narrow-necked HAP at the CHA associated with postoperative pancreatic fistula. Repeated transcatheter arterial embolization with thrombin and n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was unsuccessful, as confirmed by postprocedure angiography, which revealed recanalization and regrowth of the HAP. Eight months after the first transcatheter arterial embolization, the patient presented with a chief complaint of abdominal pain due to an enlarged HAP. Angiography of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) revealed a collateral bypass around the bile duct from the SMA to the liver graft. Coil embolization of the HAP in the CHA completely occluded the HAP without complications. More than 2 years after coil embolization, the liver graft function test results remained within normal limits without HAP recurrence.ConclusionsHAP at the CHA after liver transplantation can be fatal if ruptured. Because the liver is a highly angiogenic organ, even if initial treatment is not successful, radical treatment to occlude the CHA with HAP is possible if sufficient collateral vessels are developed.

Arterial complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: single centre experience

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most common surgeries done in general surgical practice. Arterial complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy are not uncommon and usually results due to iatrogenic injury. Mostly patients are managed by interventional radiological procedures, but very rarely we may have to resort to surgical procedures also. Our first patient a 40-year-old female patient presented with haemetemesis and malena. She was diagnosed with a right hepatic artery aneurysm following a laparoscopic cholecystectomy done 2 months back. Due to sudden haemodynamic instability, the patient underwent laparotomy aneurysmal excision and T tube drainage. Later T tube was removed. Another patient, a 41-year-old female patient presented to us with haemetemesis and malena 2 weeks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. She developed a post-operative biliary leak and was managed with USG-guided pigtail drainage. She was later diagnosed with a GDA aneurysm along with mid-CBD transection. The patient was later managed with hepatico jejunostomy. Our third patient is a 52-year-old gentleman, underwent interval laparoscopic cholecystectomy following acute calculus cholecystitis. Intra operatively following profuse bleeding, RHA artery sectoral branch repair was done. Patient continued to have bleeding and he underwent emergency angioembolisation of right hepatic artery pseudo aneurysm. Arterial complications following laparoscopic cholecystectomy result either from direct arterial or combined Bilio arterial injuries. Interventional radiological procedures are still considered the standard of care in these situations. Surgical interventions hold equally good in ongoing bile leak and in failure of embolization techniques. Management strategy depends on the clinical profile of the patient and the injuries associated with it.

Recurrent upper gastrointestinal bleeding in chronic pancreatitis since childhood: a case report

Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Causes of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in chronic pancreatitis are bleeding into the pseudocyst, pseudoaneurysm of peripancreatic vessels, and thrombosis of portal vein and splenic vein. We are presenting a rare case presentation of recurrent GI bleed in chronic pancreatitis since childhood and its management. A seventeen-year-old female patient presented with recurrent attacks of upper abdominal pain, hematemesis, bleeding per rectum, and melena since 1 month of age. She was diagnosed with a case of chronic calcific pancreatitis with pseudoaneurysm of common hepatic artery, and portal vein thrombosis with splenomegaly at the age of 2 years. She underwent angioembolization of the common hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm at the age of 2 years. However, she continued to have recurrent episodes of upper GI bleeding which required multiple hospital admissions and blood transfusions in the past. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of abdomen was suggestive of chronic calcific pancreatitis with status post coil embolization of common hepatic, gastroduodenal, and proper hepatic arteries. She underwent modified Frey’s procedure in view of recurrent symptoms. Currently, the patient is doing well after 18 months of follow-up, with no further episodes of GI bleed. Angioembolization or surgical ligation of pseudoaneurysm of involved vessels in chronic pancreatitis can control GI bleed. However, in cases where the source of bleeding is not localized by imaging/ endoscopy, drainage of pseudocyst or local resection of pancreatic tissue can reduce inflammation in and around the pancreas and prevent further GI bleed in chronic pancreatitis.

An Unusual Complication of Transarterial Radioembolization: Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm and its Treatment with Ultrasound-guided Thrombin Injection

AbstractTransarterial radioembolization (TARE) is a widely used treatment method for primary liver cancers and metastasis. Although TARE is relatively safe, it may cause liver abscess, failure, nontarget embolization, and vascular complications. Herein, we report a case of TARE-related hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm that was treated successfully with ultrasound-guided thrombin injection.

Hemorrhage From Left Hepatic Artery Pseudoaneurysm as a Complication of Acute Pancreatitis in a Patient With Fibromuscular Dysplasia

ABSTRACT Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysms are a rare complication of pancreatitis, and their rupture and bleeding cause high mortality. We present the case of a 76-year-old woman with fibromuscular dysplasia who developed a new left hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm within a week of her first episode of acute pancreatitis and later suffered an acute pseudoaneurysm bleed successfully treated with transcatheter coil embolization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported of a patient with fibromuscular dysplasia with pancreatitis-related pseudoaneurysm formation. One must consider pseudoaneurysms and associated bleeding as complications of acute pancreatitis because prompt recognition can lead to timely management.

Fulminant Hepatitis as the First Presentation of Wilson’s Disease

Wilson’s disease is rare, but it affects 6-12% of patients with an indication for urgent liver transplantation. The main manifestations, in addition to the liver, are neurological and psychiatric, with evolution with fulminant hepatitis without neuropsychiatric symptoms being rarer. Despite the urgency, the prognosis for post-transplant patients averages 85% 5-year survival. In this report, we present the case of a female patient, 18 years old, with the onset of abdominal pain, jaundice and choluria that progressed to fulminant hepatitis and the need for urgent liver transplantation. The patient evolved postoperatively with septic shock due to herpetic encephalitis, duodenal ulcer with active bleeding and hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. Despite measures for stabilization and the request for a transplant again, the patient died.