Morphological rationale for surgical treatment of patients with true splenic artery aneurysm

Aim. To study the morphological features of the wall structure of the splenic artery aneurysm in order to identify the safest and most effective method of surgical treatment.

Materials and methods. From 2020 to 2023, 43 patients underwent surgery for true splenic artery aneurysm. Interventions involved laparoscopic clipping of aneurysm branches, laparoscopic resection of aneurysm, laparoscopic splenectomy, and resection of giant splenic artery aneurysm. A clinical and morphological study of 16 slides of splenic artery aneurysm was performed. The aneurysm wall and the adjacent wall of the splenic artery without macroscopic signs of lumen dilatation for 1 cm from the aneurysmal dilatation were examined.

Results. Microscopic study revealed fragments of loose, edematous wall of large elastic arteries with atherosclerosis, atheromatosis and calcification. Atherosclerotic plaques were observed in the intima; calcium deposits were detected in 81.25% of slides, and defects in elastic fibers – in all slides. The elastic membrane was thinned or had a discontinuous structure. Morphological changes in the wall of the splenic artery persisted up to 1.0 ± 0.2 cm proximal and distal to the aneurysm.

Conclusion. Taking into account the revealed features of the morphological structure of the aneurysm, the formation of an end-to-end vascular anastomosis of the splenic artery, clipping or suturing of the aneurysm neck pose a significant risk of aneurysm recurrence. Laparoscopic clipping of splenic artery aneurysm branches at a distance of >1.5 cm from the edges of the aneurysm becomes the operation of choice for patients in this category.

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