Coil Migration to the Duodenum 1 Year Following Embolisation of a Ruptured Giant Common Hepatic Artery Aneurysm

Transcatheter arterial embolisation is often performed for the treatment of visceral artery aneurysms. Here, the case of a patient who developed the rare complication of coil migration into the intestinal tract is reported, and a review of the literature is presented.

A 30 year old woman with a ruptured giant common hepatic artery aneurysm, who had been treated with transarterial coil embolisation 1 year previously, was admitted to hospital complaining of passing the coils on defecation. Abdominal Xray and gastroscopy showed the migration of the coils through a duodenal fistula. Open repair was performed with the coils successfully removed and the duodenal fistula closed with omentopexy. At the 3 year follow up, there were no signs or symptoms of complications.

Based on observations from this case, although coil migration to the intestinal tract is exceedingly rare, aneurysm rupture with enteric fistula can lead to coil migration.