Hepatic artery aneurysm. Report of a case and review of the literature.

One hundred and nineteen cases, including the one reported here, of hepatic artery aneurysm were reviewed. The clinical features and surgical management in four etiologic groups, consisting of arteriosclerosis, cholecystolithiasis, trauma and, specific diseases, were investigated. Interruption of the hepatic artery, entailing ligation of the hepatic artery, excision of the aneurysm without vascular reconstruction, and obliterative aneurysmorrhaphy, was done in 50 patients. Its high mortality rate (26%) was principally ascribed to delayed diagnosis or inappropriate site of interruption. If conditions such as shock, anoxia and portal thrombosis are avoided, interruption of the hepatic artery seems to be a safe and useful operative method for hepatic artery aneurysms, especially accompanied by severe local infection.