title: Rupture Risk and Etiology of Visceral Artery Aneurysms and Pseudoaneurysms: A Single-Center Experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to analyze differences in rupture risk and etiology of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) and visceral artery pseudoaneurysms (VAPAs) in a single-center experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed all patients with a VAA or VAPA after treatment by open surgical or endovascular repair (ER) in our institution. Patient history, treatment details, and outcome were recorded and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From January 1996 to April 2014, 29 (12 women) patients with 33 aneurysms (26 VAAs and 7 VAPAs) were treated in elective and urgent settings by open repair or ER. Etiology was quite different, most common was atherosclerosis (61.5%) in VAA and chronic pancreatitis (85.7%) in VAPA. Rupture rate was 19.2% in VAA and 42.9% in VAPA, whereas mean size of ruptured VAA was 4.4 cm and of ruptured VAPA was 2 cm. Open repair (suture, ligation, and aneurysmectomy with or without arterial reconstruction) and ER (coil embolization in the packing technique) were performed in half of all cases. After follow-up (72-month VAA and 82-month VAPA), aneurysm-free survival was reported to be 95% in VAA and 100% in VAPA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic pancreatitis seems to be a prominent risk factor for the development of VAPA in this single-center experience. Modern endovascular techniques with promising short- and long-term results could broaden indications to treat asymptomatic VAA and VAPA.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery, Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany susanne.regus@uk-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Regus
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery, Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital, Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004630:Emergencies; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050500:Pancreatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures; D014781:Viscera / Q000098:blood supply*
keywords: chronic pancreatitis; rupture risk; visceral artery aneurysms; visceral artery pseudoaneurysm