False aneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery complicating therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

A 76-year-old woman underwent two endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures for palliation of a carcinoma of the pancreas. At the first procedure a pre-cut sphincterotomy was performed because deep cannulation of the biliary tree was impossible. An endoscopic plastic biliary stent was inserted at the second ERCP. The patient developed abdominal pain and a post-procedure CT demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm. This was not present on the pre-procedure CT and was thought to arise from the pancreaticoduodenal artery as a complication of the pre-cut sphincterotomy. Visceral angiography confirmed the origin of the aneurysm from a branch of the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery. The aneurysm was successfully embolised. To our knowledge, this is the first time that this complication has been reported.