What causes an aneurysm on your spleen?
The cause of these aneurysms is uncertain, but increased blood flow through the splenic artery may be a factor. Portal hypertension with large portasystemic shunts causes a rise in portal blood inflow volume which is thought to increase the aneurysmal propensity of the splenic artery’1,2,5.
Can you live with splenic artery aneurysm?
Splenic artery aneurysm is a rare but a potentially fatal condition. It is usually asymptomatic until it ruptures. Here, we present a case of ruptured splenic artery aneurysm in a 59-year-old gentleman presenting with epigastric pain and hypovolemic shock.
What is a calcified splenic artery?
Calcifying atherosclerosis of the splenic artery is comparable to medial sclerosis of the peripheral arteries frequently noticed in diabetics and dialysis patients. Only the less important calcification of the intima may be attributed to mechanisms of the hydrohemodynamic theory of atherosclerosis.
How is an aneurysm of the spleen treated?
The treatment options again are open surgery (mandatory in the setting of rupture), endovascular procedures, and laparoscopic surgery. Open surgical procedures include ligation of the splenic artery or aneurysm and aneurysmectomy with or without splenectomy. Mortality rates are around 1%.
How serious is a calcified splenic artery aneurysm?
Rupture is attended by a very high mortality. However, if the lesion is diagnosed before rupture occurs, surgical treatment is usually uneventful and successful. We present a case which was diagnosed before rupture and was successfully treated surgically.
How serious is a spleen aneurysm?
Splenic artery aneurysm is a rare condition, however, potentially fatal. The importance of splenic artery aneurysm lies in the risk for rupture and life threatening hemorrhage.
What causes calcified splenic artery aneurysm?
Most splenic arterial aneurysms (SAAs) are saccular and are in the distal third of the splenic artery. Suggested major causes of SAAs are atherosclerosis, pregnancy, and inflammation.
Can a calcified aneurysm rupture?
SAAs are usually detected incidentally by an annular calcification in the left upper quadrant on roentgenogram; if symptomatic, they may be associated with abdominal pain, bleeding, and rupture. Calcification does not appear to protect against rupture. The diagnosis of SAA is usually verified by CT angiography.
How serious is an aneurysm in your spleen?
What treatment is recommended for splenic aneurysm?
– Objectives. The management of patients with splenic artery aneurysms (SAAs) is variable since the natural history of these aneurysms is poorly delineated. – Methods. Between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2009, 128 patients with SAAs were evaluated. – Results. – Conclusions.
What causes splenic aneurysm?
the etiology of splenic aneurysms in pregnancy or the multiparous woman is thought to be secondary to both hemodynamic factors and hormonal influences.69the hormonal effects of pregnancy on the arterial wall include internal elastic lamina disruption and medial fibrodysplasia.69,70hormones implicated include estrogen, progesterone, and …
Is a calcified splenic artery aneurysm dangerous?
Initially, most patients do not experience any symptoms, and a splenic artery aneurysm may be diagnosed incidentally on imaging. However, some patients experience nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In some patients, serious life-threatening complications like rupture of the aneurysm can occur.
What does calcification of the spleen mean?
Splenic calcifications can occur is various shapes and forms and can occur from a myriad of etiological factors. The usual calcification observed in radiographs are the multiple, miliary form presenting numerous small rounded densities averaging from three to five millimeters in diameter where are thought to be often caused by phleboliths.