Giant Celiac Artery Pseudoaneurysm in a Case of Chronic Pancreatitis: A Rare Case Report With Literature Review

Abstract

Pancreatic pseudoaneurysms though uncommon can result in life-threatening spontaneous acute gastrointestinal or intraperitoneal hemorrhage. Celiac artery pseudoaneurysm in a background of chronic pancreatitis is a very rare event. Digital Subtraction Angiography is an important adjunct in the diagnosis and follow-up with the advantage of providing therapeutic options along with giving other details regarding the site, size, and flow characteristics. It has replaced emergency surgical procedures with the added advantage of fewer postoperative complications and lower morbidity and mortality. An urgent surgical intervention remains the only option when such endovascular management fails, not feasible, or is unavailable. Surgical options include proximal arterial ligation or a pancreatic resection, depending on the location of the pseudoaneurysm. We report a case of a 35-year-old gentleman, a known patient of chronic pancreatitis, who presented to our emergency with clinical features of hypovolemic shock and was diagnosed to have celiac artery pseudoaneurysm. Following a failed endovascular coiling, he was successfully managed with operative celiac artery ligation.