Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm : delayed presentation after a blunt trauma

BACKGROUND: Ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare condition that is life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated rapidly. We present a case of a spontaneously ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm that occurred after a blunt trauma, and provide a review of the current literature on this topic. This case study demonstrates a spontaneously ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm which emerged following a blunt trauma and it also presents current literature studies on the topic. CASE REPORT: A man at the age of 34 years with blunt trauma dating back to 1.5 month was admitted to the emergency department of a hospital with hematemesis and epigastric tenderness. He also had a duodenal ulcer, blood in the gastric lumen and a large pseudoaneurysm that developed from the left hepatic artery. Soon after the diagnosis, the patient worsened and underwent distal gastrectomy and cholecystectomy that included removing the bleeding aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: Ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm stands as a deadly condition which has to be diagnosed and managed as soon as possible. Physicians need to take aneurysms of abdominal arteries into consideration after routine diagnostic practises as long as the cause of gastrointestinal haemorrhage is unidentified.