Aneurysm of the hepatic artery: Reconstruction with saphenous vein-graft

The symptomatology and treatment of treatment of aneurysm of the hepatic artery are discussed with reference to a personal observation. In the case described, the aneurysm was resected with reconstruction by means of an autogenous vein-graft–a procedure so far described only twice in the literature. In spite of serious complications the patient made a good recovery initially, but died 18 months after the original operation as a consequence of a duodenal ulcer that had perforated into the graft. Reconstruction with a vein-graft seemed to us the most recommendable technique, but after this experience we feel that a synthetic graft probably should be preferred in the neighbourhood of stomach and pancreas if a direct anastomosis is not possible.