Coeliac artery aneurysm: aorto-hepatic artery reconstruction

Aneurysms of the coeliac axis are rare. Up to 1997 137 cases had been repor ted. Here we present a coeliac aneurysm which involved the origin of the sp lenic, left gastric, and common hepatic arteries. After making a midline in cision, infra-diaphragmatic control of the aorta was obtained. The aorta wa s clamped for 25 minutes to resect the aneurysm. The defect at the origin o f the coeliac axis was closed with 1.5 cm PTFE patch. The distal segments o f the splenic and left gastric arteries were ligated. A 6-mm ringed PTFE gr aft was interposed between the infra-renal aorta and the proper hepatic art ery. The control arteriogram showed a goon arterial flow. The patient recov ered uneventfully after surgery, with normalisation of hepatic function.