Introduction
Splenic artery pseudoaneurysms (SAPs) are rare causes of upper
gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), with less than 250 reported cases in
the literature.1 Among these reported cases, SAPs are
most often caused by pancreatitis (52%) or trauma
(29%),2 and rarely by peptic ulcer disease. To the
best of our knowledge, only nine cases of SAPs caused by peptic ulcers
have been previously reported.2-10 UGIB caused by a
ruptured SAP presents a significant risk for patient survival, since a
mortality rate of up to 90% has been reported for untreated
cases1 and the treatment strategies used can determine
whether a patient lives or dies. The use of resuscitative endovascular
balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) to control non-traumatic bleeding
has increased11-13; however, REBOA has not been used
in any case report of UGIB from a SAP that was caused by a peptic ulcer.
Herein, we report the case of a patient with UGIB from a SAP caused by a
peptic ulcer, who survived as the result of surgery using REBOA.