A rare cause of obstructive jaundice: superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm.

Abstract

Visceral arterial aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm are uncommon forms of vascular disease that have a significant potential for rupture or erosion into an adjacent viscera, resulting in life-threatening hemorrhage. Pseudoaneurysms related to the superior mesenteric artery are a recognized complication of trauma to the vessel, and successful treatment with stenting has been previously described. Percutaneous techniques offer an alternative form of therapy, and the number of reported cases treated with embolization has been rising steadily. We present the case of a 26-year-old patient with a large pseudoaneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery complicated with obstructive jaundice.