Symptomatic pseudoaneurysms following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Focus on an unusual and dangerous complication.

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has been associated with an increase in the incidence of biliary and vascular injuries. Pseudoaneurysms (PAs) following LC are rare life-threatening events with limited available experience regarding diagnosis and treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive review of literature during a 26-year period (1994-2020) using MEDLINE database and Google Scholar academic search engine revealed 134 patients with at least one symptomatic PA following LC.

RESULTS

Nearly.

UNLABELLED

81% of patients with PAs become symptomatic during the first 8 weeks following LC. The most common symptoms were gastrointestinal bleeding (74%) and abdominal pain (61%). In 28% of cases, there was a concomitant bile duct injury or leak from the cystic duct stump, whereas in about one-third of cases, PAs presented following an uneventful LC. The most common involved arteries were the right hepatic artery (70%), the cystic artery (19%) or both of them (3%). Trans-arterial embolisation was the favoured first-line treatment with a success rate of 83%. During a median follow-up of 9 months, the mortality rate was 7%.

CONCLUSION

Clinicians should be aware of the PA occurrence following LC. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential.