Hemosuccus pancreaticus - Multidisciplinary therapy for a splenic artery aneurysm, ruptured into the pancreatic duct.

BACKGROUND: Numerous conditions may lead to gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB). Compared with common causes, hemosuccus pancreaticus (HP) is a scarce and potentially life-threatening condition. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 45-year-old female patient who suffered from hematemesis and subsequent hemorrhagic shock. In repeat esophagogastroduodenoscopies, bleeding from the major duodenal papilla was detected. To stop the acute bleeding, an ERCP was performed, and a plastic stent was inserted into the pancreatic duct (PD). Subsequently, MR and CT scans demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm of the splenic artery (SA) with a fistula to the PD. An interventional therapy approach failed due to a highly twisted course of the SA. Thus, the patient underwent surgery with ligation of the SA. The stent from the PD was removed postoperatively, and the patient recovered well. A histological examination of the SA revealed fibromuscular dysplasia. A lifelong ASA therapy was prescribed, and the patient was discharged on the 14th postoperative day in good condition. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis and treatment of HP might be impeded due to its multiple causes, ambiguous symptoms, and challenging diagnostic verification. Being a potentially life-threatening condition, the knowledge of this rare entity and the provision of multidisciplinary and multimodal therapy are mandatory for the successful treatment of patients with obscure GIB and proven HP.

Atypical and rare cause of myocardial infarction: coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) treated by a carotid-subclavian bypass in a 71-year-old female patient.

BACKGROUND: The coronary subclavian steal syndrome (CSSS) is a rare complication after coronary arterial bypass graft operations (CABG) using the left or right internal mammary artery ((L/R)IMA). It results from a retrograde blood flow from the IMA into the subclavian artery (SA) due to a stenosis or occlusion of the SA proximal to the IMA origin. This "steal phenomenon" leads to a decreased blood flow in the IMA and may result in myocardial ischemia (MIS) and even myocardial infarction (MIN). Treatment options include interventional and surgical therapy. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 71-year old woman, who suffered from an acute non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) 11 years after LIMA-CABG surgery and who was treated successfully with a carotid-subclavian bypass (CSB) after failed interventional therapy. CONCLUSION: CSB may be regarded as a viable treatment option for patients suffering CSSS in the case of MIS and even an acute MIN/NSTEMI, especially in the case of missing or failed interventional therapy attempts. Specialists in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery should be aware of possible CSSS conditions and know about appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic options.