Acute hemobilia from a pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery arising from the left hepatic artery: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Hemobilia represents only 6% of all causes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Presentation of case: We report a rare case of a bleeding pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery, due to a re-activation of a chronic cholecystitis, which arose with a mixed symptomatology: jaundices and hematemesis.

Discussion: The rarity of our patient is increased for some vascular anatomic variations detected by Computed Tomography that influenced the management of the disease. Our patient was treated by endovascular embolization of the pseudoaneurysm and subsequent cholecystectomy.

Conclusion: About pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery only few cases have been already reported and to date there are no guidelines for its management. We describe both diagnostic features and therapeutic strategies in comparison to the most recent literature.

Keywords: Anatomic variant splanchnic arteries; Case report; Hemobilia; Interventional radiology; Pseudoaneurysm cystic artery.