In treatment of aneurysms (SAAs) and pseudoaneurysms (SAPs) of the splenic artery, endovascular coil embolization is the approach most commonly used as it is minimally invasive and safe. However, it carries a significant rate of primary failure (up to 30%) and might be complicated by splenic infarction. The use of stent grafts might represent a valuable alternative when specific anatomical criteria are respected. We report a comprehensive review on technical and clinical outcomes achieved in this setting. Methods: We performed a comprehensive review of the literature through the MedLine and Cochrane databases (from January 2000 to December 2023) on reported cases of stenting for SAAs and SAPs. Outcomes of interest were clinical and technical success and related complications. The durability of the procedure in the long-term was also investigated. Results: Eighteen papers were included in the analysis, totalling 41 patients (n = 20 male 48.8%, mean age 55.5, range 32-82 years; n = 31, 75.6% SAAs). Mean aneurysm diameter in non-ruptured cases was 35 mm (range 20-67 mm), and most lesions were detected at the proximal third of the splenic artery. Stent grafting was performed in an emergent setting in n = 10 (24.3%) cases, achieving immediate clinical and technical success rate in 90.2% (n = 37) of patients regardless of the type of stent-graft used. There were no procedure-related deaths, but one patient died in-hospital from septic shock and n = 2 (4.9%) patients experienced splenic infarction. At the last available follow-up, the complete exclusion of the aneurysm was confirmed in 87.8% of cases (n = 36/41), while no cases of aneurysm growing nor endoleak were reported. None of the patients required re-intervention during follow-up. Conclusions: When specific anatomical criteria are respected, endovascular repair of SAAs and SAAPs using stent grafts appears to be safe and effective, and seems to display a potential advantage in respect to simple coil embolization, preserving the patient from the risk of end-organ ischemia.

Although endovascular therapy is becoming an alternative to open surgical repair of splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs), reports on the use of stent grafts for SAA repair are limited. We present our experience of endovascular therapy using a stent graft for the treatment of an SAA that had ruptured into the gastric lumen. We also reviewed 18 cases of stent graft repair for SAAs, including the present case.

A 43-year-old man was admitted due to hematemesis. Endoscopic examination and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed a dissecting SAA that had ruptured into the stomach. Two 10 × 100 mm Viabahn (W.L. Gore, Flagstaff, Arizona) stent grafts were used to exclude the aneurysm. No complications occurred during the procedure. Although postoperative CT showed complete exclusion of the aneurysm, endoscopic examination showed a discharge of purulent matter from the aneurysm. Therefore, surgical debridement and omental implantation were added to avoid stent graft infection. Follow-up CT obtained 1 year later showed the residual aneurysm almost disappeared without any evidence of infection.

A literature search in the PubMed database returned 17 cases with sufficient data. Review of these cases, together with the present case, revealed a 100% technical success rate, 11% splenic infarction rate, 94% graft patency rate, and 0% reintervention rate.

Endovascular repair of SAAs using stent grafts appears to be safe and effective. In terms of preserving the blood flow and avoiding splenic infarction, it may be superior to coil embolization. Even in a case with aneurysm infection, stent graft repair may be an acceptable method to minimize invasion of concomitant surgical intervention.

Splenic artery pseudoaneurysms (PSA) are rare entities and far less common than true aneurysms of the splenic artery. The most common etiology is pancreatitis, recurrent either in the setting of chronic pancreatitis or as an episode of acute pancreatitis. Less common causes include trauma, peptic ulcer disease, or iatrogenic causes. Almost all of the trauma-related case reports have been due to blunt trauma. We believe this to be the first reported case of a splenic artery PSA presenting with massive hematemesis at a significant time frame after penetrating trauma. Successful transcatheter treatment was performed and alternative techniques are also discussed.

We describe a case of metallic, angiographic coil migration, following radiological exclusion of a gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm secondary to chronic pancreatitis.

A 55-year-old man presented to the out-patient clinic with chronic, intermittent, post-prandial, abdominal pain, associated with nausea, vomiting and weight loss. He was known to have chronic pancreatitis and liver disease secondary to alcohol abuse and previously underwent angiographic exclusion of a gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm. During subsequent radiological and endoscopic investigation, an endovascular coil was discovered in the gastric pylorus, associated with ulceration and cavitation. This patient was managed conservatively and enterally fed via naso-jejunal catheter endoscopically placed past the site of the migrated coil. This patient is currently awaiting biliary bypass surgery for chronic pancreatitis, and definitive coil removal will occur concurrently.

Literature review reveals that this report is only the eighth to describe coil migration following embolisation of a visceral artery pseudoaneurysm or aneurysm. Endovascular embolisation of pseudoaneurysms and aneurysms is generally safe and effective. More common complications of visceral artery embolisation include rebleeding, pseudoaneurysm reformation and pancreatitis.

Literature series that include visceral artery pseudoaneurysms rarely separate them from true aneurysms, although they address different issues. Guidelines for optimal management of these lesions are lacking. We report our experience of stent graft treatment of these lesions with midterm results.

We retrospectively reviewed all patients with a visceral pseudoaneurysm who were treated with a stent graft in our institution. Patient history, clinical characteristics, procedure details, and outcome were recorded and analyzed.

From March 2004 to June 2009, 10 consecutive patients (9 men), who were a mean age of 59 years, were treated for symptomatic visceral artery pseudoaneurysm, with hemorrhagic shock in 8 patients (80%), after pancreaticoduodenectomy in 8, gastrectomy in 1, and abdominal trauma in 1. A mean of 24 days (range, 7-60 days) passed between the initial surgery or trauma and pseudoaneurysm diagnosis. Septic complications were associated in six patients (60%). The pseudoaneurysm was in the hepatic artery in 8 patients, the splenic artery in 1, and the superior mesenteric artery in 1. Technical and clinical success was achieved in 80% of patients. Two failures of catheterization were followed by redo surgery and death (20%). No patients died postoperatively, and no complications among the patients who were treated successfully. Mean follow-up was 37 months (range, 10-63 months). All stent grafts were patent, with no signs of infection. Two patients died secondary to neoplasm. No rebleeding or recurrent aneurysms were noted.

Stent graft exclusion of visceral artery pseudoaneurysm seems to be a valid therapeutic approach regardless of the patient's septic or hemodynamic status.

A patient presented 2 weeks after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy with increased bloody output from his surgical drain. Catheter angiography found an enlarging splenic artery stump pseudoaneurysm. During the procedure, there was concern that nontarget embolization may occur, given the short splenic artery remnant. Pseudoaneurysm thrombosis was subsequently achieved using a variation of stent-supported coil embolization. At 3-month follow-up, the patient had no recurrent bleeding from the surgical site. Although this technique has been described in the treatment of neurovascular and renal artery aneurysms, it is applicable to, and readily adapted for, use in visceral arterial procedures.

A wide range of vascular disorders can affect the spleen. Although clinical presentation is often nonspecific, early diagnosis and treatment are mandatory in most conditions. Noninvasive imaging techniques are well suited to meet these objectives. Familiarity with normal macroscopic and microscopic vascular anatomy is a prerequisite to understand the pathophysiology of vascular disorders of the spleen. This article deals with diseases of the splenic vasculature (aneurysms, arteriovenous fistula, splenic vein thrombosis, collateral circulation in portal hypertension) as well as vascular disorders affecting the splenic parenchyma (splenic infarct, Gamna-Gandy bodies). Primary vascular tumors and tumor-like conditions of the spleen will be discussed very briefly.

Acute or chronic blood loss from pseudoaneurysms of the splanchnic artery in chronic pancreatitis poses diagnostic and management challenges. Arteriographic examination offers both diagnostic and therapeutic options, with success rates of 76%-100% for both modalities. In cases of failure of embolization, repeat embolization is also an option. Surgical intervention is advocated for rebleeding and failure of embolization. Evidence-based guidelines regarding the optimal treatment modality for this condition are lacking. There has been a reported case of dislodgement of coil into the stomach through a gastropseudocystic fistula. We report the case of a migrating steel-wire coil through the gastrointestinal tract and splenic artery pseudoaneurysm. We highlight the potential complications of pseudoaneurysm and other available therapeutic management options.

Mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysms are a rare and complex complication after abdominal trauma, surgery, or inflammatory disease. These lesions can be associated with compression or erosion into adjacent structures and may result in life-threatening hemorrhage. Traditional management has been open surgical ligation, aneurysm resection with interposition grafts, or resection or partial resection of the end organ involved. We present two cases of endovascular repair of complex mesenteric pseudoaneurysms. One patient presented with a recurrent pseudoaneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery and the second presented as recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to a traumatic celiac artery pseudoaneurysm-to-pancreatic duct fistula. A systematic review of the literature on endovascular management of mesenteric vascular disease and mesenteric pseudoaneurysms is included in this report to allow these cases to be put into proper perspective.

Aneurysms of the gluteal arteries are rare and were previously managed with open surgical procedures. Recently percutaneous embolisation techniques have helped reduce morbidity and mortality. A case is presented of a 63-year-old man who presented with haemorrhage and had developed a superior gluteal artery aneurysm following treatment for an invasive squamous cell carcinoma in the sacral area. There was concern that embolisation of the aneurysm might compromise the survival of the myocutaneous buttock rotation flaps that had been used for reconstruction. To overcome this, an endovascular stent was deployed to successfully close off the aneurysm whilst at the same time maintaining blood flow through the superior gluteal artery. Aneurysms in larger peripheral vessels have been managed with stents. However, this is the first reported case of this method of treatment being used in the management of gluteal artery aneurysms.

To assess the feasibility and the effectiveness of endovascular treatment of visceral arteries aneurysms (VAAs) using a "multimodal approach".

Twenty-five patients (mean age 60.1 years) with 29 VAAs (13 splenic, 4 hepatic, 3 gastroduodenal, 6 renal, 2 pancreatic-duodenal, 1 superior mesenteric) were considered suitable for endovascular treatment; 8/29 were ruptured. Saccular aneurysms (9/29) were treated by sac embolization with coils (in 4 cases associated with cyanoacrylate or thrombin) with preservation of artery patency. Fusiform aneurysms (6/29), were treated by an "endovascular exclusion". In 10/29 cases, supplied by a terminal branch, we performed an embolization of the afferent artery, with coils and cyanoacrylate or thrombin. 2/29 cases were treated with a stent-graft and 2/29 cases with a percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection and coils embolization of the afferent artery. The follow-up was performed by ultrasonography and/or CT-angiography 1 week after the procedure and then after 1, 6, and 12 months and thereafter annually.

In 29/29 cases we obtained an immediate exclusion. Two patient died for other reasons. Complication rate was 27.6% (7 spleen ischemia and 1 stent-graft occlusion). During the follow-up (range: 7 days-36 months, mean 18.7 months), we observed 3/29 (10.3%) cases of reperfusion in the first month, all treated successfully with a further endovascular procedure. Primary technical success was 89.7%; secondary technical success was 100%.

Endovascular therapy can be considered a feasible and effective approach for VAAs with good primary and secondary success rates.

Splenic arterial interventions are increasingly performed to treat various clinical conditions, including abdominal trauma, hypersplenism, splenic arterial aneurysm, portal hypertension, and splenic neoplasm. When clinically appropriate, these procedures may provide an alternative to open surgery. They may help to salvage splenic function in patients with posttraumatic injuries or hypersplenism and to improve hematologic parameters in those who otherwise would be unable to undergo high-dose chemotherapy or immunosuppressive therapy. Splenic arterial interventions also may be performed to exclude splenic artery aneurysms from the parent vessel lumen and prevent aneurysm rupture; to reduce portal pressure and prevent sequelae in patients with portal hypertension; to treat splenic artery steal syndrome and improve liver perfusion in liver transplant recipients; and to administer targeted treatment to areas of neoplastic disease in the splenic parenchyma. As the use of splenic arterial interventions increases in interventional radiology practice, clinicians must be familiar with the splenic vascular anatomy, the indications and contraindications for performing interventional procedures, the technical considerations involved, and the potential use of other interventional procedures, such as radiofrequency ablation, in combination with splenic arterial interventions. Familiarity with the complications that can result from these interventional procedures, including abscess formation and pancreatitis, also is important.

The purpose of this paper was to describe our experience with the endovascular management of splenic artery pseudoaneurysms (SAPA). Seven patients with documented SAPA on CT and/or angiography were considered for endovascular treatment. The pseudoaneurysms were located in the main splenic artery (n = 4) or its branches (n = 3). In one patient in whom the pseudoaneurysm was located in a hilar branch, selective catheterization of splenic artery failed. Metallic coils (n = 1), gelfoam and hydrogel particles (n = 1), metallic coils and gelfoam (n = 2), metallic coil, gelfoam and acrylic glue (n = 2) were used as embolization material in the remaining six patients. These patients were followed for a mean period of 11.3 months. Transcatheter embolization was successful in five patients with no procedure-related complications. In one patient, embolization was incomplete and the patient underwent surgery, but died on the 10th postoperative day because of irreversible shock. Another patient, after successful embolization, underwent surgery for management of an associated pseudocyst. Endovascular treatment is a safe and effective method of management of SAPA.