Case Report: When Arteries Betray: Massive Post-transplantation Hemorrhage

• Published in: Transplantation proceedings 2024-11, Vol.56 (9), p.2068-2071
• Main Authors: Kek, Laura, Wang, Lillian, Ahn, Joseph C., Davis, Rachel, Fleming, Chad, Sanchez, William, Williamson, Eric, Coelho-Prabhu, Nayantara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aneurysm, False - diagnostic imaging; Aneurysm, False - etiology; Aneurysm, False - surgery; Computed Tomography Angiography; Embolization, Therapeutic; Hepatic Artery - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Liver Transplantation - adverse effects; Male; Middle Aged; Postoperative Hemorrhage - etiology; Postoperative Hemorrhage - therapy; Shock, Hemorrhagic - etiology
• ISSN: 0041-1345; 1873-2623; 1873-2623
• DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2024.10.005

•Maintaining a high suspicion for hepatic pseudoaneurysm in the post-transplant setting.•Early imaging and angiography is important.•Involvement of interventional radiology early in the treatment course is recommended. Hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication that may occur in the setting of liver transplantation and other traumatic instrumentation of the hepatobiliary system. This condition poses a significant morbidity and mortality risk and must be diagnosed and intervened upon emergently. Herein we present a case of hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm complicated by hemorrhagic shock in the setting of a post-liver transplant biliary leak. In this case, the patient was ultimately diagnosed via hepatic angiogram, treated with hepatic artery embolization, and required subsequent retransplantation. The objective of this case was to demonstrate the importance of maintaining a high clinical suspicion for hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm in the post-transplant setting, emphasize the use of computed tomography angiography as a primary diagnostic tool, and involving interventional radiology early in the treatment course.