Anterior Superior Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Aneurysm Rupture Associated with Abdominal Pain

ABSTRACT

Aneurysms of visceral arteries are an uncommon, but potentially lethal, forms of vascular disease. Aneurysms of the pancreaticoduodenal artery and its branches are extremely rare. Recognized causes include acute and chronic pancreatitis, a peptic ulcer, surgery, trauma and connective tissue disease. The major complication of a pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm is rupture, usually causing gastrointestinal bleeding and intraabdominal hemorrhage, with an associated high mortality. Angiography is necessary for the diagnosis and is the treatment of choice. We report an unusual case of an anterior superior pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysm, associated with abdominal pain, that ruptured.