Published online May 27, 2015. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v7.i5.78
Peer-review started: September 4, 2014
First decision: February 7, 2015
Revised: February 23, 2015
Accepted: March 16, 2015
Article in press: March 18, 2015
Published online: May 27, 2015
Processing time: 258 Days and 0.2 Hours
Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) is characterized by intra-abdominal, retroperitoneal bleeding or bowel ischemia, and the etiology is unknown. A 44-year-old man complaining of abdominal pain was admitted to our hospital. He had been admitted for a left renal infarction three days earlier and had a past medical history of cerebral aneurysm with spontaneous remission. The ruptured site of the splenic arterial aneurysm was clear via a celiac angiography, and we treated it using trans-arterial embolization. Unfortunately, the aneurysm reruptured after two weeks, and we successfully treated it with distal pancreatomy and splenectomy. We recommended a close follow-up and prompt radiological or surgical intervention because SAM can enlarge rapidly and rupture.
Core tip: Segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM) related to intra-abdominal, retroperitoneal bleeding or bowel ischemia has a mortality approaching 25%-50%. We treated the splenic artery aneurismal re-rupture associated with SAM after trans-catheter arterial embolization with a distal pancreatomy and splenectomy. We recommend close follow-ups and prompt radiological or surgical intervention because SAM can increase rapidly and rupture.