Gastrointestinal bleeding of obscured origin due to cystic artery pseudoaneurysm

Abstract

Cystic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare condition, which usually arises from the complication of gallstone disease. Patients may present with Quinke's triad (epigastric pain, obstructive jaundice, and gastrointestinal bleeding). The results can be fatal if present with a ruptured pseudoaneurysm. We report a patient who presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and later diagnosis was confirmed with a computer tomography scan of the abdomen and a three-vessel angiogram. Endovascular intervention was attempted. Although it failed, the patient was eventually cured with an open cholecystectomy.

Keywords

• angiogram
• cystic artery
• gastrointestinal bleeding
• obscured origin
• pseudoaneurysm