Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm rupture: a case report and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm, a type of visceral artery aneurysm, is a rare condition that is life threatening if not diagnosed and treated rapidly in the emergency department (ED). Patients presenting with this condition require aggressive resuscitation. Endovascular embolization is the first-line treatment option.


OBJECTIVE
We present a case of spontaneously ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm and provide a review of the current literature on this topic, focusing on appropriate ED management.


METHODS
A 41-year-old woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple hepatic bilomas presented to the ED in critical condition with sudden onset of severe abdominal pain and hemodynamic instability. She was found to have a ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm with marked hemoperitoneum on computed tomography angiography. She was aggressively resuscitated and successfully managed via endovascular embolization.


CONCLUSIONS
Ruptured hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is a life-threatening condition that must be rapidly diagnosed and managed in the ED. Visceral artery aneurysm rupture is a diagnosis that should be considered in any patient presenting to the ED with hemodynamic instability and abdominal pain. Definitive management is with endovascular embolization.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Dena A
DA
Reiter
Aaron M
AM
Fischman
Bradley D
BD
Shy
D000328:Adult; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed