Pancreatitis is a relatively common condition which carries high morbidity and mortality, and gives rise to a vast number of complications. Historically, many of these complications would either have required intervention via highly risky open surgery, or would not have been amenable to active management at all. In recent decades, the growth and increasing accessibility of interventional radiology has presented another avenue for alleviating complications of pancreatitis, primarily in the domains of draining collections and managing vascular complications. One such potentially lethal complication is bleeding from a pseudoaneurysm, most commonly arising from the splenic or gastroduodenal arteries. Since the first report of successful embolisation of a bleeding splenic artery pseudoaneurysm emerged in 1982, this has become a broadly accepted technique for managing these complications. While the history of this field is relatively recent, these developments represent a fascinating and significant milestone in the improvement of outcomes for patients with severe pancreatitis.