Diagnosis and management of visceral artery aneurysms: report of 24 cases

During the past 30 years 24 patients were treated for visceral artery aneurysms in our hospital. There were 12 hepatic, 7 gastroduodenopancreatic, 3 splenic, and 2 superior mesenteric artery aneurysms. Perilous ruptures occurred in 20 patients, among them 13 ruptured into the biliary tract, 4 into the upper gastrointestinal tract, and 3 into the abdominal cavity. Correct preoperative diagnosis was often difficult. Selective celiac and superior mesenteric angiography was most valuable, and 14 patients were correctly diagnosed preoperatively by the procedure. Nineteen underwent emergent surgery and 8 died. Prognosis depended on the anatomic location of the aneurysms and the general condition of the patients.