Spontaneous thrombosis of hepatic artery aneurysm

Background Aneurysms of the splanchnic arteries are usually asymptomatic. Spontaneous thrombosis of these aneurysms is unusual, but two such patients are reported. Case outline Two cases are described of spontaneous thrombosis of aneurysms, one of the right hepatic artery and another of the gastroduodenal artery. One aneurysm occurred after an episode of acute pancreatitis and the other following abdominal trauma. No surgical or radiological intervention was undertaken in either patient. Discussion The main cause of splanchnic artery aneurysms is atheosclerosis, abdominal trauma and acute pancreatitis being relatively rare. Treatment includes surgical excision and reconstruction with synthetic graft or ligation, and/or radiological intervention by arteriography and embolisation. In the event of spontaneous thrombosis, conservative treatment is indicated.