Ruptured bronchial artery aneurysm associated with bronchiectasis: a case report.
A massive hemothorax from a ruptured bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is very rare. Only 12 cases of ruptured mediastinal BAA have been reported. This case study describes a 77-year-old female with bronchiectasis who presented with anemia, hypertension, hemothorax, and a mediastinal mass. A chest tube was inserted through which 2 liters of unclotted blood was drained from the left pleural cavity. An enhanced computed tomography scan revealed a ruptured 3-cm diameter mediastinal aneurysm of a bronchial artery supplying the left lower lobe. Transcatheter artery embolization (TAE) with multiple microcoils was performed successfully. Although the patient needed a transfusion, the subsequent course was uneventful. In the absence of trauma or other causes for hemothorax and mediastinal hemorrhage, the possibility of a BAA should be considered. TAE is the treatment method of choice as a minimally invasive strategy in patients with ruptured BAA.
Mizuguchi
Shinjiro
S
Departments of Thoracic Surgery, Radiology, and Cardiovascular Surgery, Bell Land General Hospital, Sakai, Osaka, Japan.
Inoue
Kiyotoshi
K
Kida
Akio
A
Isota
Masayuki
M
Hige
Katsuaki
K
Aoyama
Takanobu
T
Ishikawa
Takumi
T
D000368:Aged; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D001981:Bronchial Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D015505:Chest Tubes; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome