Open AccessArterioportal fistula after partial gastrectomy treated with coil embolisation
Author(s) -
Roberto N. Miranda,
Andre Jose Leonardo Gordinho,
Virginia Veronica Visconti,
Isménia Oliveira
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2018-226721
Subject(s) - medicine , radiology , melena , perforation , gastrectomy , surgery , arteriovenous fistula , angiography , left gastric artery , artery , materials science , cancer , punching , metallurgy
Arterioportal fistulas are a rare complication of abdominal interventions. They can remain asymptomatic for a long time and manifest with symptoms of portal hypertension. We present the case of a 65-year-old man admitted to the emergency room with increasing fatigue and melena. He had a history of partial gastrectomy with Billroth II reconstruction 40 years earlier for peptic ulcer perforation. On physical examination, he was pale and presented a machinery-type murmur in the epigastric area. Blood tests revealed iron deficiency anaemia of 5.6 g/dL. During hospitalisation, he required several blood transfusions and maintained melenas. An abdominal CT angiography showed a fusiform aneurysm of the left gastric artery draining to the venous portal-splenic confluent. He was successfully treated with transarterial coil embolisation of the left gastric artery aneurysm. The correct diagnosis of arterioportal fistulas can be very challenging, whereas the standard treatment with coil embolisation offers a low morbidity resolution of symptoms.