Arterial complications of pancreatitis: diagnostic and therapeutic role of radiology.

Hemorrhage from pseudoaneurysm complicating pancreatitis is an infrequent but very severe condition. In most cases, acute, massive gastrointestinal bleeding is typical at onset, and prognosis of these cases is usually poor. Nine cases of arterial lesions secondary to pancreatic inflammation are presented, eight related to chronic pancreatitis and one to acute postoperative pancreatitis. Five patients were evaluated during emergency episodes because of acutely gastrointestinal bleeding (four cases), and pseudocyst acute bleeding (one case). Four patients were selectively evaluated: three had a history of self-limiting gastrointestinal hemorrhage, whereas one had experienced no episodes of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Angiography was performed in all cases and was always diagnostic, even in the two cases of very small pseudoaneurysms. Transcatheter arterial blockade was attempted in five patients and failed to control the hemorrhage in one acutely bleeding patient because of irreversible shock. Two cases of pancreatic hemorrhage not related to a pseudocyst were effectively and permanently treated by embolization. A case of a pseudoaneurysm associated with a pseudocyst required surgery in addition to embolization for a definite treatment. Nevertheless, when a pseudoaneurysm or a pseudocyst hemorrhages acutely, transcatheter arterial blockade can control the hemorrhage and improve the hemodynamic status of the patient before surgery.