Ruptured pancreaticoduodenal pseudoaneurysm causing arterioportal fistula: combined transarterial and transportal embolization

Abstract Background Arterioportal fistulas are rare vascular disorders of the abdominal viscera. They are arteriovenous communications between the splanchnic arteries and the portal vein or its tributaries. We herein report a case of an extrahepatic arterioportal fistula that was caused by rupture of a pseudoaneurysm of the pancreaticoduodenal artery and successfully treated with embolization using a combination of the arterial and percutaneous transhepatic portal venous approaches. Case presentation A 79-year-old man was transferred to our hospital because of the sudden appearance of a hematoma containing a large pseudoaneurysm in the mesentery of the duodenum. Emergency abdominal angiography revealed that a pseudoaneurysm of the anterior inferior pancreaticoduodenal arterial branch had perforated into the portal system (arterioportal fistula). We performed coil embolization via the inflow artery and portal vein using a percutaneous transhepatic approach. The patient recovered without complications and was discharged. Conclusion This rare vascular disorder was successfully treated with an unplanned combination therapy. We believe that flexible strategy changes led to the successful treatment in this case.