Endovascular treatment of a hepatic artery aneurysm causing chronic abdominal pain; a case report.

BACKGROUND Aneurysms of the visceral arteries are rare but potentially lethal lesions. We describe a case of a successful endovascular exclusion of a hepatic artery aneurysm in a patient that suffered from chronic abdominal pain. CASE REPORT A 68-year old man presented with chronic abdominal pain that had existed for 10 months. A diagnostic contrast-enhanced CT scan showed an 18 mm atherosclerotic aneurysm of the hepatic artery. When other pathology was excluded the aneurysm was excluded using an ePTFE-covered nitinol stentgraft. Post-deployment angiograms showed a complete exclusion of the aneurysm. The abdominal complaints immediately resolved. After a follow-up period of 18 months patient had a patent endograft and remained free of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Small hepatic artery aneurysms may cause chronic recurrent abdominal pain and can be safely excluded using a covered stentgraft.