Left gastric artery aneurysm in Marfan syndrome: a unique case

BMJ Case Rep. 2015 Jun 29:2015:bcr2014208342. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-208342.

Abstract

A 78-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, high International Normalised Ratio and rapidly falling haemoglobin. He had a background of Marfan syndrome and was on warfarin following mechanical aortic valve replacement. Abdominal CT imaging showed haemoperitoneum with a leaking aneurysm of the left gastric artery measuring 10 mm in diameter. The decision whether to reverse his anticoagulation provided a difficult clinical scenario given the risk of thrombosis associated with the mechanical aortic valve. The patient went on to have a successful percutaneous embolisation of the aneurysm using a metallic coil and Onyx. Left gastric artery aneurysms are rare and have a reported mortality of up to 70%. This is the first case of gastric artery aneurysm described in a patient with Marfan syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / diagnosis*
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants
  • Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / surgery
  • Aortic Dissection* / diagnosis
  • Aortic Dissection* / etiology
  • Aortic Dissection* / therapy
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
  • Celiac Artery / pathology*
  • Embolization, Therapeutic*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marfan Syndrome / complications*
  • Marfan Syndrome / pathology
  • Risk
  • Warfarin

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Warfarin