Ruptured Visceral Artery Aneurysms: A Deadly Cause of Epigastric Pain

Abstract

Visceral artery aneurysms (VAA) are rare, life-threatening disease processes that often affect the celiac, superior mesenteric, or inferior mesenteric arteries and their respective branches. The splenic, hepatic, superior mesenteric, and tripod celiac arteries are most commonly affected and have high rupture and mortality rates. This case describes splenic and celiac artery aneurysms in a patient that led to hemorrhagic shock and multisystem organ failure despite timely diagnosis and ligation. A brief review of the literature further elucidates the key risk factors in identifying patients with VAAs and their treatment course.