Left gastric artery pseudoaneurysm as a sequelae of chronic pancreatitis: recognizing a life-threatening complication

Left gastric artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare but important life-threatening complication of chronic pancreatitis. We report a case of a 54-year-old male with chronic pancreatitis who presented with history of severe abdominal pain. Following an initial suspicion of acute pancreatitis, a computed tomography of abdomen was obtained that showed a large left gastric artery pseudoaneurysm (4×4 cm) with circumferential thrombosis. The patient then underwent successful angiographic coiling of the aneurysm, thus preventing a potentially life-threatening hemorrhage. In conclusion, in patients with a history of chronic pancreatitis who present with abdominal pain, a high index of suspicion should be maintained for alternate causes of abdominal pain such as visceral aneurysms involving left gastric artery. Early recognition is critical and consequences of missing these lesions can be catastrophic.