Percutaneous thrombin embolization of a pancreatico-duodenal artery pseudoaneurysm after failing of the endovascular treatment

Abstract

Pancreatico-duodenal artery (PDA) pseudoaneurysms are rare vascular conditions with high mortality rates after rupture and they are frequently secondary to pancreatitis, surgery, trauma or infection. Due to the high risk of rupture and bleeding, it is mandatory to treat all pseudoaneurysms, regardless of their size or symptomatology. First option of treatment is open surgical repair, but it has high mortality rate, especially in hemodynamically unstable patients. In the recent years, percutaneous ultrasonography (US)- or computed tomography-guided thrombin injection was proposed as an alternative method for treating visceral aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms, but few reports described this therapy in case of peri-pancreatic pseudoaneurysms. We present a rare case of pseudoaneurysm of the PDA in a patient with no previous history of pancreatitis nor major surgery but with an occlusive lesion of the celiac axis. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of PDA pseudoaneurysm successfully treated in emergency by single transabdominal US-guided injection of thrombin after failed attempts of percutaneous catheterization of the feeding vessel of the pseudoaneurysm.

Keywords: Pancreatico-duodenal artery; Pseudoaneurysm embolization; Percutaneous thrombin injection; Endovascular treatment; Arterial intervention

Core tip: We present a rare case of pseudoaneurysm of the pancreatico-duodenal artery (PDA) in a patient with no risk factors but with an occlusive lesion of the celiac axis. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of PDA pseudoaneurysm successfully treated in emergency by single transabdominal ultrasonography-guided injection of thrombin after failed attempts of percutaneous catheterization of the feeding vessel of the pseudoaneurysm.