Hemodynamics of splenic artery aneurysm.

Blood flow volume of the portal venous system of 3 patients with splenic artery aneurysm, an uncommon disease, was measured using an ultrasonic duplex system. A huge increase in splenic blood flow volume was found in each case. A large portasystemic shunt through which the portal blood flowed hepatofugally was present in 2 cases. We suspect the shunt is partially responsible for an increase in splenic blood flow volume, which would lead to the formation of splenic artery aneurysm together with portal hypertension.