Post traumatic pseudoaneurysm of an intrasplenic segmental artery; a mechanism of delayed splenic rupture

The investigation of posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms in patients treated with nonoperative management for blunt abdominal solid organ injuries

Background

Posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms (PAs) have been recognized as the cause of delayed hemorrhage complicated with nonoperative management (NOM), although the need for intervention in patients with small-sized PAs and the relationship between the occurrence of PAs and bed-rest has been also unclear.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical history of small-sized PAs (less than 10 mm in diameter) which occurred in abdominal solid organs, and to analyze the relationship between the occurrence of PAs and early mobilization from bed.

Methods

Sixty-two patients who were successfully managed with NOM were investigated. Mobilization within three days post-injury was defined as “early mobilization” and bed-rest lasting over three days was defined as “late mobilization.” A comparison of the clinical factors, including the duration of bed-rest between patients with and without PAs detected by follow-up CT was performed. Furthermore, a multiple logistic regression model analysis on the occurrence of PAs was performed.

Results

PAs were detected in 7 of the 62 patients. The One patient with PAs measuring larger than 10 mm received trans-arterial embolization, and the remaining six patients with PAs smaller than 10 mm were managed conservatively. Consequently, no delayed hemorrhage occurred, and the PAs spontaneously disappeared in all of the six patients managed without intervention. The multiple regression model analysis revealed that early mobilization was not a significant factor predicting new-onset PAs.

Conclusions

Small PAs can be expected to disappear spontaneously. Moreover, early mobilization is not a significant risk factor for the occurrence of PAs.

Intrasplenic Arterial Aneurysms during Pregnancy

Splenic artery aneurysms account for about 60% of all visceral aneurysms. Pregnancy is a risk factor for splenic artery aneurysms rupture with high maternal mortality and fetal loss. Intrasplenic arterial aneurysms are extremely rare and have not been reported to be associated with pregnancy. This report presents a 34-year-old woman during the second trimester, admitted with severe left upper quadrant and left shoulder pain. She had two uncomplicated intrasplenic aneurysms. Splenectomy was done. She delivered a full term healthy girl. This is the first report of acute abdomen during pregnancy caused by intrasplenic artery aneurysms with maternal and fetal survival.

Posttraumatic Intrasplenic Pseudoaneurysm with High-Flow Arteriovenous Fistula: New Lessons to Learn

Intrasplenic pseudoaneurysm is a potentially lethal complication of abdominal trauma. We present the case of a 33-year-old patient with this particular complication diagnosed by CT-scan. Selective embolization was not possible due to its extraordinarily large size and finally splenectomy was performed. We review the English literature and discuss the particular role of the interventional radiologist to treat this entity. The interventional radiologist is the specialist who better estimates the success of embolization or the risk and possibility of delayed splenic rupture. Embolization of the arterial tributary to the pseudoaneurysm should be considered as the treatment of choice only when the diagnosis is made before rupture of the spleen and only in selected cases. Splenectomy always remains as an alternative treatment for high-risk pseudoaneurysms.