Endovascular Plug for Endobronchial Management of an Expectorated Pulmonary Artery Embolization Coil: A Case Report

Pulmonary artery aneurysms are frequently managed with endovascular embolization. Rare but serious complications of coil embolization are erosion and migration of the coils into the adjacent airways, posing a risk for massive hemoptysis. We report the case of a medically complex patient with a left main pulmonary artery aneurysm treated with coil embolization who ultimately experienced transbronchial migration and expectoration of the coil. We discuss the challenging anesthetic and surgical management of these serious complications, including the use of an endovascular plug to occlude the erosion site and distal airways.

A Rare Case of Peripheral Pulmonary Artery Aneurysm and Cavitating Pneumonia in a Patient with COVID-19 Managed with an Endovascular Method

Peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA), being a rare condition, is considered extremely rare following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We present a 58-year-old male who presented with fever, malaise, and dry cough. SARS-CoV-RNA transcription-mediated amplification test was positive for the patient. After 2 days, he developed hemoptysis and back pain, and a CT scan revealed a pulmonary aneurysm, evidence of alveolar hemorrhage, and Necrotizing pneumonia. He was scheduled for pulmonary artery angiography. The angiography confirmed a fusiform aneurysm and partial coiling of the aneurysmal sac, and indoor and backdoor embolization was performed. In the follow-up, a CT scan showed complete thrombosis of the aneurysmal sac, and the patient was free of symptoms. Peripheral PAAs can show a variety of symptoms. They can even be asymptomatic. The infectious pathologies of this condition are less common than the other. COVID-19 is an extremely rare pathology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of necrotizing pneumonia and peripheral PPA in an adult. Moreover, it was followed by COVID-19. A vital takeaway note for physicians is to consider PAAs as a complication when treating COVID-19 patients who don't show signs of improvement or even show signs of exacerbation.

Misdiagnosis of pulmonary artery aneurysm with eroding thrombus into the airways. A fatal case of suffocation

We present a fatal case of hemoptysis following a thrombus-eroding pulmonary artery aneurysm into the left upper bronchus of a 79-year-old male with a history of multiple hospital contacts and examinations due to cough, hemoptysis, and reflux symptoms.

A postmortem computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a hyperdense, condensed area in the left lung in relation to the lung hilus. At autopsy, the forensic specialist discovered a large, organized thrombus in a pulmonary artery aneurysm. The thrombus was adherent to the pulmonary artery aneurysm wall with an underlying defect directly communicating to the left upper bronchus. The cause of death was asphyxia due to blood in the airways (i.e., suffocation).

The combination of pulmonary artery hypertension, previous pulmonary embolism, and hemoptysis should lead to a particularly thorough inspection of the lungs with a focus on the pulmonary circulation. This case report emphasizes the importance of early detection of patients at risk of pulmonary artery rupture and attentiveness when performing biopsies during bronchoscopy to prevent communication between the artery and the airway. The risk of rupturing an aneurysm should be taken into account when performing biopsies on excrescence intruding into the bronchus in patients with medical histories of pulmonary hypertension, cough, and sporadic hemoptysis.

A 58-Year-Old Woman With a History of Cardiac Myxoma Presents With Pulmonary Nodules

CASE PRESENTATION

A 58-year-old woman presented to a pulmonology clinic for evaluation of bilateral pulmonary nodules. Two years previously, she had presented with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. During evaluation for her tachyarrhythmia, transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed a large, homogenous, highly mobile right atrial and ventricular mass. She underwent electrophysiologic ablation, tricuspid valve annular ring replacement, and resection of the mass, which pathology confirmed to be a myxoma. Now, a recent abdomen and pelvis CT study obtained for history of nephrolithiasis incidentally noted bilateral lower lobe pulmonary nodules. Follow-up noncontrast chest CT confirmed bilateral peribronchovascular solid pulmonary nodules up to 8 mm in diameter throughout all lobes. The nodules appeared contiguous with the segmental and subsegmental bronchovascular bundles, and many occurred at branch points. There was no mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy. To evaluate the pulmonary nodules, she was referred to a pulmonology clinic. She reported only stable, nonlimiting dyspnea on exertion. She did not have a cough. She denied a history of fevers, weight loss, or night sweats. She had no rash or skin changes, visual changes, joint pain or swelling, or palpitations. She had no history of oropharyngeal or genital ulcerations. Social history was notable for a 40-pack-year smoking history, with quit date 2 years prior. She had no risk factors for TB exposure and no exposures to sandblasting, stone cutting, or other environmental risk factors for silicosis. Family history was negative for autoimmune conditions, sarcoidosis, and lymphoproliferative disorders.

Anesthetic management of pulmonary artery replacement for idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery with a Kommerell's diverticulum: a case report

Background

Idiopathic dilatation of the pulmonary artery (IDPA) is a rare condition in which the pulmonary artery dilates without an obvious cause. Pulmonary artery replacement is indicated in severe cases to prevent serious complications.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old man was diagnosed with an IDPA of 64 mm and Kommerell’s diverticulum (aortic aneurysm located at the aberrant left subclavian artery). A computed tomography scan revealed slight compression of the aneurysm to the trachea, although not interfering with airway management. The surgical approach was a median sternotomy, and cardiopulmonary bypass was established through aortic and bicaval cannulations. The perioperative course was uneventful.

Conclusions

To prevent injury to the dilated pulmonary artery, a strategy for cardiopulmonary bypass and a surgical approach should be discussed beforehand. As dilatation of the pulmonary artery is often complicated by anatomic abnormalities, preoperative evaluation should be aimed at appropriate assessments using imaging modalities.

Surgical Management of a Pulmonary Arterial Aneurysm via Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Resection

Pulmonary arterial aneurysm is a rare condition involving a focal dilation of the pulmonary artery and all three layers of the vessel wall. Few reports have described managing this anomaly using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. We report a 60-year-old woman with a pulmonary artery aneurysm in the truncus superior of the right pulmonary artery. The patient underwent a two-port video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with a right upper lobectomy. The postoperative course was uneventful. She maintained a good prognosis for 4 months after surgery, and we continue to take great care throughout her follow-up.

Extrinsic compression of left main coronary artery by aneurysmal pulmonary artery in severe pulmonary hypertension: its correlates, clinical impact, and management strategies

Aims

Although left main coronary artery (LMCA) compression (Co) by pulmonary artery (PA) aneurysm (A) has been reported in some pulmonary hypertension (PH) series, clinical importance and management of this complication remain to be determined. In this single-centre prospective study, we evaluated correlates, clinical impact, and management strategies of LMCA-Co in patients with PH.

Methods and results

Our study group comprised 269 (female 166, age 52.9 ± 17.3 years) out of 498 patients with confirmed PH who underwent coronary angiography (CA) because of the PAA on echocardiography, angina or incidentally detected LMCA-Co during diagnostic evaluation with multidetector computed tomography. The LMCA-Co ≥ 50% was documented in 22 patients (8.2%) who underwent CA, and stenosis were between 70% and 90% in 14 of these. Univariate comparisons revealed that a younger age, a D-shaped septum, a higher PA systolic, diastolic, and mean pressures and pulmonary vascular resistance, a larger PA diameter, a smaller aortic diameter and pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with patent-ductus arteriosus, atrial or ventricular septal defects were significantly associated with LMCA-Co. Bare-metal stents were implanted in 12 patients and 1 patient underwent PAA and atrial septal defect surgery and another one declined LMCA stenting procedure.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates that LMCA-Co is one of the most important and potentially lethal complications of severe PH, and alertness for this risk seems to be necessary in specific circumstances related with PAA. However, long-term benefit from stenting in this setting remains as a controversy.

Pulmonary artery aneurysms: Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative findings

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) are a rare but potentially lethal cardiovascular pathology. PAAs tend to develop in young patients with no gender discrepancy; they are most often associated with congenital heart disorders but also with systemic infections, vasculitis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, chronic pulmonary embolism, and malignancies. Dissection and rupture carry significant morbidity and mortality, thus patients require careful management, especially those with associated pulmonary hypertension. Given the rarity of this condition, physicians have yet to establish standard treatment guidelines. Most studies published to date are case reports with one or two patients; here, we describe our experience with six cases of large PAAs treated surgically at our institution.

METHODS

We identified and retrospectively analyzed clinical data for patients who underwent surgery for PAAs between 2009 and 2017.

RESULTS

The average age at surgery was 59.73 years, five patients were females, and 83.3% had baseline hypertension. Systolic murmurs were the most common clinical finding. The average aneurysmal size was 65.0 mm. We repaired the PAA with a woven Dacron graft (22-26 mm) in four patients. We performed concomitant pulmonary valve procedures on five patients: four replacements and one repair. Mean pump and cross-clamp times were 108.5 and 65 minutes. Operative and 30-day mortality was 0%. Average length of stay was 10.5 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative mortality was 0%; all patients showed improvement of symptoms after surgery. These findings confirm that PAA repair has an acceptable risk profile in select patients.

Acquired peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysms: morphological spectrum of disease and multidetector computed tomography angiography findings-cases series and literature review

BACKGROUND

Acquired peripheral or intraparenchymal pulmonary artery aneurysms (PPAA) are rare entities but are important to recognize because of the associated morbidity. Hemoptysis is their principal complication and is a potentially fatal condition.

PURPOSE

To illustrate the causes, multidetector CT angiography (MDCTA) findings and differential diagnosis of acquired PPAA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The institutional review boards approved this study. We conducted a retrospective review of the demographic data and the results of clinical and laboratory examinations, and imaging studies of patients managed between January 2012 and January 2017 in two institutions.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients had acquired PPAA that were detected at MDCTA, 9 patients with normal pulmonary artery pressures and 10 with pulmonary hypertension. Nine patients developed PPAA-related acute symptoms. MDCTA features of PPAA include: a lobulated vascular mass, an indistinct irregular arterial wall, aneurysmal thrombosis or wall calcification, findings of impending rupture including perianeurysmal edema, gas or a soft tissue mass.

CONCLUSION

PPAA are rare. In our series, endocarditis and pulmonary hypertension are the PPAA leading causes. The treatment modality preferred is embolization, especially as surgery poses a very high risk for patients with severe pulmonary hypertension. Further clarification of the natural history of these rare arterial aneurysms is needed.