Geriatric assessment of a giant splenic artery aneurysm accidentally diagnosed

Abstract

Giant splenic artery aneurysms (GSAAs) larger than 8 cm in diameter have rarely been reported, particularly in older people. They are clinically important lesions, often asymptomatic and related to an increased risk of complications such as abrupt rupture, requiring emergency surgical treatment. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), originally developed for multidimensional clinical evaluation in several geriatric settings, was recently proposed as a fundamental preoperative aid for treatment planning of older patients undergoing elective surgery and preventing adverse post-operative outcomes. We present the first case of an asymptomatic 9-cm partially thrombosed GSAA, accidentally diagnosed during abdominal ultrasound in a 63-year-old woman from the Apulia region in Southern Italy. She successfully underwent aneurysmectomy, highlighting the usefulness of CGA in elective surgical patients.

Management of Giant Splenic Artery Aneurysm

“…Despite being rare, SAAs are important due to their potentially life-threatening complications, such as spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture, rupture into the neighboring hollow organs, and fistulization into the pancreatic duct. 1 , 2 Most small SAAs (≤ 2 cm) are asymptomatic, and are diagnosed incidentally when radiological tests are performed for another condition. 3 In contrast, most giant SAAs (≥5 cm) are symptomatic and can result in complications.…”

A Case Of Splenic Artery Aneurysm, Treated By Aneurysmectomy And Splenic Artery End-To-End Anastomosis

“…Splenic artery aneurysms (SAA)'s, are considered the third common intrabdominal aneurysms after abdominal aorta and iliac arteries aneurysms and accounting about 60% of all splanchnic artery aneurysms. They carry high risk of rupture, mainly when their diameter is large [1,2]. SAA's can be found as true or pseudoaneurysms, as they can rupture intraperitoneally they have the potatial to rupture into the nearby hollow organs or fistulize into pancreatic duct [2].…”

“…They carry high risk of rupture, mainly when their diameter is large [1,2]. SAA's can be found as true or pseudoaneurysms, as they can rupture intraperitoneally they have the potatial to rupture into the nearby hollow organs or fistulize into pancreatic duct [2]. The incidense of SAA's are about 0.02% of all age grups with a peak in elders.…”

“…Splenic artery aneurysms (SAA)'s account about 60% of all splanchnic artery aneurysms and are the third common intrabdominal aneurysm after abdominal aorta and iliac artery aneurysms [1]. SAA's are important because of their rupture potential and may cause fatal haemorrhagia, mainly when the aneurysm's diameter is more than 8 cm [2]. SAA can be treated either by conventional open surgery or by endovascular intervention techniques.…”

Endovascular treatment of pseudoaneurysms secondary to chronic pancreatitis: reports of two cases

“…Although rare, SAAs can potentially be life threatening, due to spontaneous intraperitoneal rupture, rupture into the neighboring hollow organs, and fistulization into the pancreatic duct. 8 …”