BACKGROUND: Aneurysm of the cystic artery is not common, and it is a rare cause of hemobilia. Most of reported cases are pseudoaneurysms resulting from either an inflammatory process in the abdomen or abdominal trauma. . A case of a patient with hemobilia secondary to a pseudoaneurysm of the cystic artery is presented.Fewer than 10 cases have been reported in the literature, and in all of them the condition was associated with inflammation of the gall bladder.Extensive search of the literature did not reveal any case of pseudoaneurysm of cystic artery post trauma.[2] This is the first documented case of post traumatic cystic artery aneurysm causing hemobilia.
METHOD: We report an individual who developed hemobilia and chronic cholecystitis associated with cystic artery aneurysm following blunt abdominal trauma.
RESULT: The patient was managed with angio-embolization with an uneventful post- embolization course.
CONCLUSIONS: Visceral artery aneurysms are rare and can rupture with potentially grave outcome due to excessive bleeding. Angiographic embolization as a common method of treatment for visceral artery aneurysms was used in our patient with good outcome.