The diagnosis and management of splanchnic artery aneurysms. Report of 8 cases.

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical characteristics and surgical technique for splanchnic artery aneurysms. Over the past 10 years we have surgically resected 8 cases of splanchnic artery aneurysms including 2 cases involving the superior mesenteric artery, 3 involving the renal artery, 1 involving the hepatic artery and 2 involving the splenic artery. Diagnosis was established preoperatively in all patients by splanchnic angiography. Surgical treatment for splanchnic artery aneurysms is indicated in any symptomatic patient, in all symptomatic patients with suspected renal aneurysmal expansion and in patients who have renal aneurysms occurring with functionally important renal stenosis, usually associated with hypertension, in all patients with surgical accessible hepatic artery aneurysms, in all patients who have superior mesenteric artery aneurysms having a high tendency to rupture, and in all patients with an asymptomatic splenic artery aneurysms 1.5 cm or larger in diameter. Although splanchnic artery aneurysms are uncommon and asymptomatic, we recommend that splanchnic arteries should be treated surgically because of their tendency to rupture or organ failure.