Hemosuccus pancreaticus - Endovascular treatment by transcatheter embolization of both gastric arteries
Abstract
Acute bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract is a rare but fatal complication of pancreatitis [1]. It is caused by communication between a peripancreatic artery and the pancreatic system due to arterial arosion by lytic enzyme or pressure of a growing pseudocyst [2].
Since 1970, when Sandblom described 3 cases of gastrointestinal bleeding from the pancreatic duct, the term hemosuccus pancreaticus has been used for such bleeding [3]. In our case a patient with chronic pancreatitis developed acute bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract to the perforation of a pseudoaneurysm into pancreatic pseudocyst in the area of the pancreatic body.
The diagnosis of hemosuccus pancreaticus established by endoscopy and postcontrast CT examination was confirmed by angiography. We stopped the acute bleeding from the pseudoaneurysm, unusually well supplied by both gastric arteries, by embolizing both arteries with metallic coils.