Hemoptysis: unilateral pulmonary artery atresia? a case report. 2023

Aneel Maini, and Sebastian Cousins, and Tyler Holliday, and Jessica Wang Memoli, and Tajender Singh Vasu, and Puja Gaur Khaitan
Department of General Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA.

BACKGROUND Asymptomatic, isolated cases of unilateral pulmonary artery atresia may present in adulthood with symptoms such as recurrent respiratory infections, dyspnea, hemoptysis, and pulmonary hypertension. Unlike previously reported patients that underwent surgical management for this pathology, the patient in this report had no chronic history of recurrent respiratory infections, dyspnea, or pulmonary hypertension, making a diagnosis prior to extensive imaging difficult. METHODS A 55-year-old male presented to our emergency department (ED) with a 3-day history of recurrent cough with 2-3 tablespoons of hemoptysis per episode, chills, and occasional wheezing. A computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed, which identified a congenital absence of the left pulmonary artery and a right-sided aortic arch. Hypertrophied left intercostal and bronchial arteries were noted to be perfusing the left lung. V/Q scan confirmed a heterogeneous distribution of gas throughout both lung fields with 97% perfusion to the right lung, but no visualization of the left lung on the perfusion images. Given extensive collateral blood supply to the left lung, interventional radiology performed a GELFOAM® embolization of the hypertrophied left bronchial artery and two parasitized arteries from the left subclavian artery to minimize intra-operative blood loss. This was immediately followed by a left thoracotomy, pneumonectomy, intercostal muscle flap placement, and bronchoscopy. The procedure was 360 min long with a total of 1500 cc blood loss that was salvaged and re-infused. No additional blood products were administered. The patient remained intubated post-operatively and was transferred to the surgical intensive care unit. His postoperative course was complicated by troponin leak, rhabdomyolysis, delirium, and ileus, all of which resolved over time. He was discharged home on postoperative day seven and continues to do well one-year later. CONCLUSIONS The patient in this report presented with several episodes of isolated hemoptysis but unlike previously reported cases of unilateral pulmonary artery atresia, he had no history of recurrent respiratory infections, dyspnea, or pulmonary hypertension. Although unilateral pulmonary artery atresia is a rare diagnosis, in patients with unexplained, isolated hemoptysis, further examination of the vasculature may be warranted, and surgical management may be beneficial in appropriate, symptomatic patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006976 Hypertension, Pulmonary Increased VASCULAR RESISTANCE in the PULMONARY CIRCULATION, usually secondary to HEART DISEASES or LUNG DISEASES. Pulmonary Hypertension
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011651 Pulmonary Artery The short wide vessel arising from the conus arteriosus of the right ventricle and conveying unaerated blood to the lungs. Arteries, Pulmonary,Artery, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Arteries
D012141 Respiratory Tract Infections Invasion of the host RESPIRATORY SYSTEM by microorganisms, usually leading to pathological processes or diseases. Respiratory System Infections,Upper Respiratory Tract Infection,Upper Respiratory Tract Infections,Infections, Respiratory,Infections, Respiratory Tract,Infections, Upper Respiratory,Infections, Upper Respiratory Tract,Respiratory Infections,Upper Respiratory Infections,Infection, Respiratory System,Infection, Respiratory Tract,Respiratory Infection, Upper,Respiratory System Infection,Respiratory Tract Infection
D004417 Dyspnea Difficult or labored breathing. Orthopnea,Platypnea,Recumbent Dyspnea,Rest Dyspnea,Trepopnea,Breathlessness,Shortness of Breath,Breath Shortness,Dyspnea, Recumbent,Dyspnea, Rest,Dyspneas, Rest
D006330 Heart Defects, Congenital Developmental abnormalities involving structures of the heart. These defects are present at birth but may be discovered later in life. Congenital Heart Disease,Heart Abnormalities,Abnormality, Heart,Congenital Heart Defect,Congenital Heart Defects,Defects, Congenital Heart,Heart Defect, Congenital,Heart, Malformation Of,Congenital Heart Diseases,Defect, Congenital Heart,Disease, Congenital Heart,Heart Abnormality,Heart Disease, Congenital,Malformation Of Heart,Malformation Of Hearts
D006469 Hemoptysis Expectoration or spitting of blood originating from any part of the RESPIRATORY TRACT, usually from hemorrhage in the lung parenchyma (PULMONARY ALVEOLI) and the BRONCHIAL ARTERIES. Hemoptyses
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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