Management of a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of common hepatic artery following pancreaticoduodenectomy

Abstract

Postoperative pseudoaneurysm formation is one of the most feared complications of pancreatic leak following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Surgical repair may be compromised due to a persistent enzymatic insult on the repaired vessel; therefore, preventive measures should be adopted. We report a case of ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm occurring 12 days following PD in a patient with a postoperative pancreatic fistula. Emergency surgery revealed that the pseudoaneurysm was situated at the point of surgical transfixation of the gastroduodenal artery. The pseudoaneurysm was successfully managed by under-running of the bleeding point combined with the direct application of hemostatic products to the bleeding surface (TachoSil™ and Tisseel™) to act as a barrier from the pancreatic secretions. ©2007 with author. Published by TheScientificWorld.