Idiopathic pseudoaneurysmal omental bleeding, a rare cause of life-threatening acute abdomen

Abstract

Mesenteric aneurysms and their complications can be a life-threatening presentation of acute abdomen to the emergency department. The majority of mesenteric artery aneurysms are incidentally detected on imaging investigations and are asymptomatic. Symptomatic mesenteric aneurysms manifest as hemoperitoneum or abdominal pain. In addition, treatment of symptomatic aneurysms is delayed due to the infrequent consideration of the diagnosis in patients presenting with abdominal pain. Timely and accurate diagnosis is of paramount importance as any delay in definitive surgical management can lead to increased patient's mortality and morbidity with up to 25% of mesenteric aneurysms may be complicated by rupture.