Celiac Artery Avulsion Secondary to Blunt Trauma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A 70-year-old male presented with a celiac artery avulsion following a motor vehicle collision. He was hemodynamically stable and complained of severe abdominal pain. A Computed Tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a central supramesocolic retroperitoneal hematoma. There was concern for discontinuity of the celiac artery. At laparotomy, using a left medial visceral rotation, the celiac artery was found completely disrupted and both ends were ligated. He was discharged on post-operative day eleven, without complications. Celiac artery avulsion is reported in 0.01-0.1% of patients sustaining abdominal vascular injuries. This is only the second reported case of blunt celiac artery avulsion.




J Med Cases. 2013;4(5):280-283
doi: https://doi.org/10.4021/jmc1009e