Gastrointestinal bleeding due to ruptured pseudoaneurysm in patients with pancreatitis

Abstract

We present the medical imaging results and clinical data of four pancreatitis cases with gastrointestinal bleeding due to rupture of a pseudoaneurysm to determine in which situations a rupture should be suspected. Our observations suggest that the possibility of such a rupture must be kept in mind when encountering not only patients with hematemesis or melena associated with acute severe abdominal symptoms but also patients with severe anemia. Color Doppler sonography and computed tomography are very useful as first-line diagnostic tools and should be performed promptly to prevent a delay in patient management.