Post traumatic intra-abdominal pseudo-aneurysms in children

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Pseudoaneurysms are rare but serious complications following blunt abdominal trauma.
• Literature review indicates aggressive management is the standard approach for traumatic pseudoaneurysms.
• Intra-abdominal pseudoaneurysms present unique diagnostic and management challenges.

Observation:

• Two cases of intra-abdominal pseudoaneurysms resulting from blunt abdominal trauma are presented.
• Both patients experienced pseudoaneurysm formation following non-penetrating abdominal injury.
• Initial diagnostic imaging confirmed the presence and location of the pseudoaneurysms.

Findings:

• Conservative management was successfully employed in both reported cases.
• This approach avoided invasive procedures typically associated with pseudoaneurysm treatment.
• The pseudoaneurysms resolved or remained stable without significant complications under observation.

Implications:

• Conservative management may be a viable alternative to aggressive interventions for select post-traumatic intra-abdominal pseudoaneurysms.
• This finding could lead to revised clinical guidelines and reduced patient morbidity.
• Further research is warranted to define criteria for conservative management of traumatic pseudoaneurysms.