Visceral artery aneurysms: series of 17 cases treated in a single center.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to evaluate early and long term results obtained with a retrospective review in 8-year experience with surgical/endovascular treatment of visceral artery aneurysm (VAA) in a single center.


METHODS
Between 2001 and 2008 in our vascular surgery unit visceral artery aneurysms were diagnosed with CT and/or angiography in 17 patients (9 male), mean age 66 years old (range: 18 to 78). All patients underwent surgical or endovascular treatment of splanchnic artery aneurysm. In 14 patients the localization was single, in 3 it was multiple. The arteries involved were: splenic artery 53%, superior mesenteric artery 17.7%, pancreaticoduodenal artery 17.7%, celiac axis 5.8% and hepatic artery 5.8%. The 29.4% of the patients presented with aneurysm rupture. Coil embolizzation was used in 11.6% of the cases while surgery was used in 88.4% of the cases.


RESULTS
Total survival rate was 94.2%, the survival rate in emergency cases was 80% while it was 100% in elective cases. Follow-up revealed excellent results after an average of 46 months (range: 8-102).


CONCLUSIONS
The worst prognosis for ruptured cases associated with the good result of the surgical/endovascular treatment in elective cases, suggests active interaction for such pathologies; in emergency cases the mortality incidence is too high. Today endovascular treatment presents lower morbidity and mortality rates and shorter hospitalization, but surgery is still a good therapeutic option for the treatment of the VAA, in subjects with low surgical risk, determining a definitive and long-lasting correction of the aneurysmal pathology and guaranteeing the correct perfusion of the organs, by grafts; moreover many aneurysms are not suitable for endovascular treatment.
Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Mauriziano Umberto I Hospital, Turin, Italy. emaferrero@libero.it
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E
Ferrero
A
A
Gaggiano
M
M
Ferri
A
A
Viazzo
G
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Berardi
S
S
Piazza
P
P
Cumbo
V
V
Lamorgese
F
F
Nessi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D014781:Viscera / Q000098:blood supply*; D055815:Young Adult