Rupture of an infected iliac artery pseudoaneurysm caused by asymptomatic gastrointestinal foreign body perforation

Abstract

We report a unique case of a ruptured iliac artery pseudoaneurysm caused by asymptomatic gastrointestinal perforation and retroperitoneal abscess formation. A 46-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department of our institution. Angiography showed a ruptured iliac artery pseudoaneurysm caused by retroperitoneal abscess formation. After endovascular repair and surgical drainage, the cause of the abscess was finally identified as a toothpick. Findings from this case show that asymptomatic gastrointestinal foreign body perforation can be a rare, but insidious, cause of an infected pseudoaneurysm. Prompt surgical intervention is sometimes necessary when treating patients with arterial pseudoaneurysm caused by a perivascular abscess.