Low-pressure pulmonary artery aneurysm presenting with pulmonary embolism: a case series.
Summary of "Low-pressure pulmonary artery aneurysm presenting with pulmonary embolism: a case series."
ABSTRACT:
INTRODUCTION:
Pulmonary artery aneurysm is an uncommon disorder with severe complications. The diagnosis is often difficult, since the clinical manifestations are non-specific and the treatment is controversial, as the natural history of the disease is not completely understood. CASE
PRESENTATION:
We describe the cases of two patients with pulmonary artery aneurysms. The first patient was a 68-year-old Caucasian man with an idiopathic low-pressure pulmonary artery aneurysm together with a pulmonary embolism. The patient preferred a conservative approach and was stable at the 10-month follow-up visit after being placed on anti-coagulant treatment. The second patient was a 66-year-old Caucasian woman with a low-pressure pulmonary artery aneurysm also presented together with a pulmonary embolism. The aneurysm was secondary to pulmonary valve stenosis. She received anti-coagulants and, after stabilization, underwent percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty.
CONCLUSION:
Pulmonary embolism may be the initial presentation of a low-pressure pulmonary artery aneurysm. No underlying cause for pulmonary embolism was found in either of our patients, suggesting a causal association with low-pressure pulmonary artery aneurysm.
Affiliation
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Journal of medical case reports
ISSN: 1752-1947
Pages: 163
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21518463
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-5-163
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Catheterization, Swan-ganz
Placement of a balloon-tipped catheter into the pulmonary artery through the antecubital, subclavian, and sometimes the femoral vein. It is used to measure pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary artery wedge pressure which reflects left atrial pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. The catheter is threaded into the right atrium, the balloon is inflated and the catheter follows the blood flow through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle and out into the pulmonary artery.
Pulmonary Wedge Pressure
The blood pressure as recorded after wedging a CATHETER in a small PULMONARY ARTERY; believed to reflect the PRESSURE in the pulmonary CAPILLARIES.
Pulmonary Embolism
Blocking of the PULMONARY ARTERY or one of its branches by an EMBOLUS.
Pulmonary Heart Disease
Hypertrophy and dilation of the RIGHT VENTRICLE of the heart that is caused by PULMONARY HYPERTENSION. This condition is often associated with pulmonary parenchymal or vascular diseases, such as CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE and PULMONARY EMBOLISM.
Pulmonary Subvalvular Stenosis
Narrowing below the PULMONARY VALVE or well below it in the infundibuluar chamber where the pulmonary artery originates, usually caused by a defective VENTRICULAR SEPTUM or presence of fibrous tissues. It is characterized by restricted blood outflow from the RIGHT VENTRICLE into the PULMONARY ARTERY, exertional fatigue, DYSPNEA, and chest discomfort.
PubMed Articles
Bicuspid pulmonary valve with atrial septal defect leading to pulmonary aneurysm.
Pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare. We describe 2 adult patients with pulmonary artery aneurysm with normal pulmonary pressure associated with bicuspid pulmonary valve and atrial septal defect. One p...
We present a coincidental finding of quadricuspid pulmonary valve and left pulmonary artery aneurysm. As both the pulmonary valve and the pulmonary trunk with its main branches are hard to visualise w...
Pleomorphic malignant histiocytoma of pulmonary arteries presenting as pulmonary aneurysms.
Pulmonary aneurysms and primary neoplasms of the great vessels are very rare entities; pulmonary aneurysms are commonly associated with congenital heart diseases, and less frequently in atherosclerosi...
Reconstruction of the intraparenchymal pulmonary artery aneurysm.
Pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare and often arise in the left main trunk. Because they are uncommon, standardized treatment and clinical management are not clearly established. We present the case o...
Isolated Unilateral Agenesis of the Pulmonary Artery: Surgical Repair With an Artificial Graft.
This report describes a 3-month-old Japanese boy with a diagnosis of isolated unilateral agenesis of the proximal right pulmonary artery with severe pulmonary hypertension. One-stage reconstruction of...
Clinical Trials
PEITHO Pulmonary Embolism Thrombolysis Study
Heparin is the reference therapy for most patients with pulmonary embolism. Some patients with sub-massive pulmonary embolism defined by normal blood pressure and dysfunction of the right...
PREPIC 2 : Prevention of Recurrent Pulmonary Embolism by Vena Cava Interruption
The purpose of this study is to assess efficacy and safety of optional vena cava filter implanted 3 months in prevention of recurrent pulmonary embolism in patients presenting with acute p...
Study of Diagnosis and Pathophysiology of Pulmonary Embolism (APE 1 Trial)
The purpose of this study is to - investigate which method and criterion for diagnosing pulmonary embolism is the best and - determine the relationship between blood ves...
Pulmonary Embolism Response to Fragmentation, Embolectomy, & Catheter Thrombolysis: PERFECT
A prospective observational study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness data of catheter-directed therapy (CDT) including percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT) for treatment of acu...
Identifying Low-Risk Patients With Pulmonary Embolism
To develop a clinical prediction rule to identify patients with acute pulmonary embolism who are at very low risk for short-term adverse outcomes.
