[Visceral artery aneurysms]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Abdominal Imaging

Context:

• Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) are uncommon vascular lesions with a reported autopsy frequency of 0.1-0.2%.
• Rupture remains a common initial presentation (22%), associated with significant mortality (8.5%) despite emergency interventions.
• Thromboembolic complications and rupture underscore the critical need for awareness of VAA as a differential diagnosis for abdominal pain.

Purpose:

• To review the etiology, clinical presentation, and treatment strategies for visceral artery aneurysms (VAA).
• To present a case series of 9 patients with VAA, detailing the types and locations of aneurysms observed.
• To discuss the available therapeutic options, including surgical and interventional approaches.

Summary:

• The study reviewed 9 patients with VAA, including aneurysms of the splenic artery (3), gastric artery (3), gastroepiploic artery (1), pancreaticoduodenal artery (1), and superior mesenteric artery (1).
• Surgical therapy was performed in 8 of 9 patients, while only 2 patients (22%) received interventional treatment.
• One patient died due to postoperative hemorrhage, highlighting potential complications associated with VAA treatment.

Impact:

• Emphasizes the importance of considering VAA in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain due to potentially catastrophic outcomes.
• Highlights that both surgical and radiological interventions are viable treatment options for VAA.
• Stresses the necessity of an individualized approach for selecting the optimal therapeutic strategy for each patient with VAA.