[Rupture of a jejunal artery pseudo-aneurysm after a cephalic duodenopancreatectomy]

[A jejunal artery pseudoaneurysm ruptured in the jejunal lumen: A rare vascular complication of severe pancreatitis]

Jejunal pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of pancreatitis, usually manifested by digestive bleeding when it ruptures into the digestive lumen. This complication is extremely rare and may be life-threatening. The diagnosis is based on abdominal angiographic computed tomography. Radiology allows therapeutic management through arterial embolization. This case report describes a pseudoaneurysm of jejunal artery that developed as the result of pancreatitis: A 77-year-old man seen in early September 2015 at the emergency department for acute pancreatitis had a pseudocyst infected and spontaneously fistulized into the jejunum lumen. His condition responded initially to symptomatic therapy, and he was discharged. He returned two years later, with digestive bleeding from jejunal pseudoaneurysm that had ruptured into the jejunal lumen. Angiographic embolization was performed as first-line treatment with good outcome. Bleeding more than two years after acute pancreatitis due to rupture of a jejunal pseudoaneurysm is an exceptional complication. Here we report a rare case of digestive hemorrhage caused by jejunal pseudoaneurysm, complicating acute pancreatitis.

Unusual case of digestive bleeding nine months after a cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy (CPD)

INTRODUCTION

Post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage is mostly due to the gastroduodenal artery stump erosion. The diagnosis of arterial bleeding is done by digestive endoscopy, selective angiography or video capsule endoscopy. On failure of etiological research, surgery is the last resort despite its technical difficulties.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 63 years-old woman was admitted in surgery, nine months after cephalic pancreaticoduodenectomy for a pain of the right hypochondria combined with a pneumoperitoneum, after a 3rd episode of hemorrhage. Exploratory laparotomy is performed after a third hemorrhagic episode and failure of etiological research. Bleeding from the gastroduodenal artery stump was discovered and successfully treated.

DISCUSSION

Post-pancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage can occur very late. In these cases, a secondary arterial erosion obstructed by left hemi-liver should not be excluded. In these cases, despite the technical risks, surgery is required.

CONCLUSION

The failure of the means used for diagnostic must lead to the surgery right away, despite operating risk.

Successful endovascular embolisation of a jejunal artery aneurysm

Jejunal artery aneurysms are rare, with only six cases reported in the literature to date. Endovascular embolisation of the jejunal artery is rarely performed. Herein, we report the case of a 57-year-old man who successfully underwent endovascular embolisation for bleeding caecal diverticulosis, during which a 9-mm fusiform jejunal artery aneurysm was incidentally diagnosed. Subsequently, the jejunal aneurysm was successfully embolised using Vortex coils.

Management of supra-mesocolic peritonitis using the Levy helicoid drain (Hélisonde®)

INTRODUCTION

Postoperative peritonitis arising in the upper abdomen requiring reoperative surgery has a mortality rate of up to 50%. One therapeutic modality for these patients is the use of the Hélisonde(®) drain, designed by Levy, the Levy Helical Drain (LHD), but it has not seen widespread use. In this paper, we describe our experience in managing supramesocolic peritonitis with this drain at the University Surgical Center at Amiens and we analyze our results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 2005 and 2010, we cared for 190 patients with supramesocolic peritonitis in our unit. Of these, 22 patients with gastric or duodenal fistula underwent transorificial intubation with the LHD. There were 12 men and 10 women with a mean age of 66 years. At surgery, the helical drain was screwed into the fistular orifice, two more flat drains were left adjacent to the fistula, and a jejunal feeding tube was placed. The mean interval between the initial surgery and the drainage procedure was 16.1 ± 14 days.

RESULTS

The mean APACHE II score was 20 (10-28). The Mannheim score averaged 28 (19-34). The LHD was completely removed at a mean interval of 35.5 ± 11 days. Six patients (27%) died postoperatively. Postoperative complications included intraperitoneal abscess (n = 3), pneumonia (n=1), and evisceration (n = 2). Two patients required reoperation. The average hospital stay was 70.7 days. Four patients had a persistent chronic fistula.

CONCLUSION

The LHD is a useful technical device in the treatment of supramesocolic peritonitis. Its management requires close oversight.

[Conservative treatment of an aortoduodenal fistula after paraaortic lymphadenectomy in hepatobiliary malignancy surgery with aortic endoprosthesis]

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding from a primary aortoduodenal fistula is unusual and usually fatal. Postoperative aortoduodenal fistula after biliary surgery is a very rare complication. We report hence a 69-year-old female patient who underwent a main bile duct resection with extended paraaortic lymphadenectomy for a cholangiocarcinoma. Acute melena with hemoglobin drop occurred on postoperative day 24. Initial CT-scan showed an aortic pseudoaneurysm with aortoduodenal fistula. An aortic endoprosthesis with endoscopic drainage of periaortic collections allowed successful treatment.