Gastroduodenal Artery (GDA) Pseudoaneurysm as a Cause of Massive Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding Years After Partial Gastrectomy

Gastroduodenal artery (GDA) pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of gastric and pancreatic surgery. The presentation is often severe gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding with up to a 90% mortality rate. Proper identification of past gastrectomy based on history or endoscopic appearance is essential for timely embolization or surgery, given that endoscopic management often fails. Here, we present a 65-year-old man who has a history of gastric ulcer-related surgery without clear documentation and hypertension presented with hematemesis, black stools, and syncope. Upper endoscopy showed signs of gastroenterostomy with stenosis and duodenal ulcer with spurting hemorrhage. Two days after endoscopic therapy, a recurrence of massive GI bleeding was noted. A celiac arteriogram was done by interventional radiology, demonstrating a pseudoaneurysm off the GDA. Successful embolization was performed with helical coils. The GI bleeding stopped, and the patient became stable after that. The GDA pseudoaneurysm-related bleeding should always be suspected in patients who underwent gastrectomy, bypass surgery, or pancreatectomy. Endoscopic interventions are usually temporary and sometimes can only give anatomical correlation before angiogram and embolization offer a definite treatment. Patients with GDA pseudoaneurysm can be entirely asymptomatic for a long time. The most common site of bleeding is the duodenum. Surgical interventions can also be offered if an angiogram is not successful in stopping the bleeding.