Technical considerations for ligation of ruptured hepatic artery aneurysm: is arterial reconstruction necessary?

Ruptured hepatic artery aneurysm is a rare life-threatening condition. Open surgery with ligation of the aneurysm is the treatment of choice if the patient presents with haemodynamic instability. Controversies exist on whether hepatic artery reconstruction is needed after exclusion of the aneurysm. Involvement of the gastroduodenal artery origin was proposed as an indication for reconstruction, but this might be difficult to ascertain upon laparotomy. Recent studies showed that arterial ligation distal to the gastroduodenal artery origin does not necessarily result in ischaemic liver injury, implying that reconstruction in such cases may not be required, especially in a haemodynamically unstable patient. A patient with common hepatic artery aneurysm involving the gastroduodenal artery origin presented with rupture and underwent aneurysm ligation. Adequacy of intrahepatic arterial flow was determined by intra-operative Doppler ultrasonography and arterial reconstruction was not performed. The technical considerations during the operative management of ruptured hepatic artery aneurysms are discussed.