Cystic artery pseudoaneurysm: A case report

BACKGROUND: Cystic artery pseudoaneurysm is a condition rarely encountered by clinicians; this, its etiology and presentation as well as appropriate treatments are not well studied. Although it is treated by removal of the diseased gallbladder and cystic artery, such surgery can be difficult and risky if acute inflammation with bleeding occurs, and not every patient can tolerate the surgery. CASE SUMMARY: An 81-year-old man complained of epigastric pain and tarry stool passage that lasted for 3 d. He had a medical history of poor cardiopulmonary function. The computed tomographic scan of abdomen showed cystic artery pseudoaneurysm and dilatation of gallbladder. Because of high adverse outcomes related to general anesthesia, the patient was successfully managed with endovascular embolization for this cystic artery pseudoaneurysm and percutaneous drainage for the distended gallbladder. CONCLUSION: A patient with cystic artery pseudoaneurysm may quickly deteriorate with the occurrence of concurrent arterial bleeding and sepsis. This report presents the case of a patient who did not undergo surgery due to multiple cardiopulmonary comorbidities and whose condition was managed successfully with embolization and biliary drainage. Endovascular embolization and biliary drainage may provide an alternative option to manage this complicated condition.