Aneurysms of the hepatic arteries

Seven patients with an aneurysm of the hepatic artery were investigated and operated on between 1976 and 1987. Five patients presented at the time of rupture and in three of those the aneurysm communicated with the biliary tree causing hemobilia. The aneurysm was located in the right hepatic artery in four patients; in the common hepatic artery in two patients, and in the left hepatic artery in one patient. Excision of the aneurysm was performed in five cases, but in two cases a liver resection had to be carried out. Five of the seven patients survived, including both patients who had elective surgery. It is concluded that hepatic artery aneurysms have a high tendency to rupture and therefore an elective operation should be performed in all patients with diagnosed aneurysm of the hepatic artery.