Hemorrhagic pseudocyst and pseudocyst with pseudoaneurysm successfully treated by pancreatectomy: report of three cases

Hemorrhagic pseudoaneurysm of pancreatic pseudocyst is one of the serious complications of acute pancreatitis. We successfully treated three patients who had hemorrhagic pseudocyst and pseudocyst with pseudoaneurysm by pancreatectomy. Case 1 was 43-year-old Japanese man who had had several episodes of acute pancreatitis and was diagnosed with hemorrhagic pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery in a pseudocyst in the pancreatic tail, shown on computed tomography (CT) and angiography. Transarterial embolization (TAE) yielded hemostasis of the pseudoaneurysm, but rebleeding occurred 2 weeks after the TAE. Distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was successfully performed. Case 2 was a 64-year-old Japanese man who presented to us with several attacks of acute pancreatitis. Imagings showed bleeding pseudoaneurysm of the transverse pancreatic artery in a pseudocyst in the pancreatic body. Because of marked stenosis in the proximal portion of the transverse pancreatic artery, TAE was unsuccessful. Distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed successfully. Case 3 was a 40-year-old Japanese woman who had a history of abdominal trauma. Imagings showed bleeding pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery in a posttraumatic pseudocyst in the pancreas. TAE of the pseudoaneurysm was unsuccessful because of the proximity of the pseudoaneurysm and the splenic artery. Distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was successfully performed and her postoperative outcome was satisfactory. Whenever interventional radiology (IVR) is not indicated or has failed, aggressive and immediate surgical intervention should be considered for early and definitive recovery in these patients. Received: November 15, 1999 / Accepted: April 6, 2000