A ruptured hepatic artery aneurysm with periodic hematemesis and hematobilia - A different aspect to the upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Aneurysms of the hepatic artery are mostly localized extra hepatic (80%). Today atherosclerosis is the most prevalent etiology (32%), followed by trauma (22%) and inflammatory lesions (10%). Rupture or perforation of the aneurysm is the initial clinical manifestation (60-80%), and occurs with nearly equal frequency into the peritoneal cavity and into the hepato-biliary tract. Rupture into bile ducts is often responsible for characteristic findings of upper gastrointestinal bleedings with hematemesis. the case of a 38-year-old man is presented and the clinical manifestation, the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are demonstrated.