Endoscopy 2005; 37(9): 876-878
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-870201
Case Report
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Thrombin Injection for the Treatment of Pancreatic Pseudoaneurysm

H.  Roach1 , S.  A.  Roberts1 , R.  Salter1 , I.  M.  Williams2 , A.  M.  Wood1
  • 1Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
  • 2Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Further Information

Publication History

Submitted 10 January 2005

Accepted after Revision 9 February 2005

Publication Date:
22 August 2005 (online)

Introduction

A pseudoaneurysm is a contained leak from an artery which remains in communication with the arterial lumen. Pseudoaneurysm formation is an uncommon but well-recognised complication of pancreatitis [1]. It is associated with a mortality of up to 50 % [1], or over 90 % if leaking or ruptured and untreated [2]. Conventional treatment is surgical ligation but, more recently, treatment strategies that utilise interventional radiological techniques such as angiographic embolisation have been developed to treat pseudoaneurysms. These techniques require selective catheterisation of the vessel supplying the pseudoaneurysm and its occlusion with coils or other thrombogenic agents.

Thrombin injection directly into pseudoaneurysms is a technique which was developed to treat pseudoaneurysms that formed following femoral artery puncture, with a success rate of up to 97 % [2]. More recently, direct percutaneous thrombin injection into pancreatitis-induced pseudoaneurysms, guided either by ultrasound [2] [3] [4] or by computed tomography [1], has been described.

The use of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the diagnosis of pseudoaneurysms secondary to pancreatitis has been reported [5] [6]. In this report, we describe the injection of thrombin into a superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm under EUS guidance. As far as we are aware, this technique has not been reported previously.

References

  • 1 Manazar J R, Monzon J R, Dietz P A. et al . Treatment of pancreatic pseudoaneurysm with percutaneous transabdominal thrombin injection.  J Vasc Surg. 2003;  38 600-602
  • 2 Sparrow P, Asquith J, Chalmers N. Ultrasonic-guided percutaneous injection of pancreatic pseudoaneurysm with thrombin.  Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2003;  26 312-315
  • 3 Luchs S G, Antonacci V P, Reid S K, Pagan-Marin H. Vascular and interventional case of the day: pancreatic head pseudoaneurysm treated with percutaneous thrombin injection.  Am J Radiol. 1999;  173 830, 833-834
  • 4 Armstrong E M, Edwards A, Kingsnorth A N. et al . Ultrasound-guided thrombin injection to treat a pseudoaneurysm secondary to chronic pancreatitis.  Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2003;  26 448-449
  • 5 Breslin N, Wallace M B. Diagnosis and fine-needle aspiration of pancreatic pseudocyst: the role of endoscopic ultrasound.  Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2002;  12 781-790
  • 6 Cattan P, Cuillerier E, Cellier C. et al . Hemobilia caused by a pseudoaneurysm of the hepatic artery diagnosed by EUS.  Gastrointest Endosc. 1999;  49 252-255

S. A. Roberts, M. D.

Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Wales

Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust · Heath Park · Cardiff CF14 4XW · United Kingdom

Fax: +44-29-207-45207·

Email: ashley.roberts@cardiffandvale.wales.nhs.uk