Celiac Artery Dissection (CAD)

Isolated dissection of the celiac artery is rare. Celiac artery dissection is not the same as, but can be accompanied by celiac artery aneurysm.

@aas, have you been diagnosed with celiac artery dissection? What treatment is being offered?

@colleenyoung
Hi, I had a CAD two yrs ago and had multiple procedures to help the issue. I had very little information during the whole process and am looking for support. I have a vast medical history.

@chr0nicsurviv0r

Hello I have a celiac artery dissection as well with some aneurysmal dilatiaion of the celiac artery too. I believe this was related to inflammation from cholecystitis I had with also gallstone pancreatitis. It has been stable for about 7 years but was delayed in diagonsis and discovered when I had a CT scan of my abdomen for another reason. I am being followed yearly with doppler ultrasound at a very reputable University hospital in Chicago by the head of vascular surgery who has experience with this. I have had no procedures. Would advise seeking care at a high level teriary care center which sees these uncommon cases. The inital vascular surgeon I saw at my local health care group wanted to do surgery so I sought care elsewhere.. Not sure if this dissection would require further care if there are no complicating factors. Abdominal surgery has its own complications as the celiac nervous plexus surrounds this vessel and if damaged can result in chronic diarrhea etc. not for me as I get older.

@chr0nicsurviv0r

Hello I have a celiac artery dissection as well with some aneurysmal dilatiaion of the celiac artery too. I believe this was related to inflammation from cholecystitis I had with also gallstone pancreatitis. It has been stable for about 7 years but was delayed in diagonsis and discovered when I had a CT scan of my abdomen for another reason. I am being followed yearly with doppler ultrasound at a very reputable University hospital in Chicago by the head of vascular surgery who has experience with this. I have had no procedures. Would advise seeking care at a high level teriary care center which sees these uncommon cases. The inital vascular surgeon I saw at my local health care group wanted to do surgery so I sought care elsewhere.. Not sure if this dissection would require further care if there are no complicating factors. Abdominal surgery has its own complications as the celiac nervous plexus surrounds this vessel and if damaged can result in chronic diarrhea etc. not for me as I get older.

@mjpisa Hello, I am looking for a second opinion for a celiac artery aneurysm, could you please share information for the Chicago facility. Thank you!
Steve

Hi, I'm Italian. I also have an aneurysmal dissection of the celiac duct, apparently following a dissection of the superior mesenteric artery.
Both were diagnosed late.
I wanted to ask if you were also diagnosed with mesenteritis.
When the mesenteric artery injury occurred, I also had an inflamed gallbladder with biliary sludge.
Can I ask for the details of this center in Chicago?
Have you also done any genetic testing? Have you ever been told about segmental arterial mediolysis? Any other connective tissue diseases?

Thanks.
Fabio

I too ended up in the ER for a sharp abdominal pain on my left side mostly and my upper central abdominal. 2 different reasons. A CT scanner showed I have a hematomas from my self-injecting shots for leveling up my blood thinner level.

It was way too low and it was in danger of having a stroke or heart attack from a blood clot as my blood was too thick and taking a long time to clot.

So these injections were added to my Coumadin. The hematoma formed as a result. I was bleeding in my abdomen.

Nothing they can do about that because it’s basically an internal bruise. Hard and very painful.

While there the CT scan showed that I had a torn celiac artery aneurysm. I knew about it from my yearly sonograms and for 3 years I was told by my cardiovascular surgeon that it wasn’t growing.

The hospital I went to said “you need to go to another hospital for emergency surgery” so they packed it up and put me into a big ER on wheels and off I went and the trauma hospital.

Long story short the surgeon acknowledged the tear and said that because it wasn’t bleeding there was “no need to admit you into the hospital tonight but you will need to come back to the hospital “

“See your cardiovascular surgeon ASAP first” I called him and I was told “we have an appointment set up for your yearly sonogram and I’ll see you in March” ( 3 months away!)!

I insisted that that was not acceptable and “I need to see you ASAP”. “All hospitals say that” (ASAP). and he finally caved in and we made an appointment for 2 days. He was literally annoyed by my insistence!

When I got there I had forgotten to bring my mask and halfway through the door she stopped me and rudely said “don’t you live in an assisted living facility? I said “yeah “ and she scolded me by yelling out that “shame on them for sending you here without a mask !”

I have 3 but just forgot to grab one. After filling out some paperwork a man came out and it was the sonogram guy. He did a sonogram and then I went into an exam room and my doctor came in and was making light of my issue the whole time I was there.

“We didn’t see any tears in your aneurysm” and I said that 2 surgeons seen it and you didn’t see any?” That’s when I said “could it bleed or burst?”
“It could but don’t worry about it, it’s no big deal”

He said that “we have treatment plans for a burst or bleeding aneurysm! “I’ll see you next year!” and walked out of the room.

I made next year’s appointment and walked out feeling like I’m a walking time bomb. It could burst he said but I know that a burst or bleeding aneurysm is an emergency and needs quick treatment. They are usually fatal in many cases.

This nutty doctor was annoyed clearly that I messed up his day with other patients and now I think I should get a second or third opinion. My insurance company said they had a list that I can pick from and my PCP was absolutely of no help as his answer was “ your cardiovascular Surgeon knows you better than anyone else”.
And we left it at that as I was on the phone and he rushed me off to attend to his other patients.

Am I being a hypochondriac or is a second opinion warranted?
I feel like I just got blown off by both doctors and I’m not one to whine.

@steveke
Hello Steve,

Just as an fyi, there are different types of celiac a. aneurysms, mine is vessel dilatation with chronic dissection. Saccular or false aneurysms which look like a focal outpouch or "bubble" I believe are more emergent.

Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine

Dr. Eskandari Chief of Vascular Surgery

UPDATE: 2 years later.
My new cardiovascular surgeon did a complete aortic artery sonogram and he said that I had an aneurysm and it was at 3.9 cm with a tear in it! How can I go from “ I don’t see a torn aneurysm “ to two years later having one of 3.9 cm and torn? It was a different cardiovascular surgeon. As a result I have another meeting next month for another sonogram and then a follow up the following month after that. Why was he able to find it and the other cardiovascular surgeon said he didn’t see any. The one that said he didn’t see any was the one that was mad that I insisted that I have it checked. The one that rushed me through.
If you feel that something is not right and the doctor blows you off seek a second opinion.
Both are cardiovascular surgeons yet I get 2 different opinions. I feel that this new one is more professional and has good bedside manners. The first one who said he didn’t see any was a grouch insulted that I demanded an immediate appointment and not wait a month.