Laparoscopic treatment of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm in the presence of calculous cholecystitis

Abstract

Cystic artery pseudoaneurysm is a very rare disease in which there is an abnormal, focal dilatation of the artery supplying the gallbladder. The condition may occur as a consequence of a localised inflammatory response, such as in cholecystitis. Here, we present the case of a 56-year-old man who presented with chronic cholecystitis in whom a 1.8 cm × 2 cm cystic artery pseudoaneurysm was found incidentally during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Prior to the operation, routine investigations such as ultrasound revealed no indication of cystic artery pseudoaneurysm, ruptured or otherwise. This case is reported to emphasise that cystic artery pseudoaneurysm may be caused by chronic or acute cholecystitis and that skilled surgeons may handle them laparoscopically.