Non-operative management strategy for blunt pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm: A case report

Declan A Feery; Kevin Kuruvilla; Allison G McNickle; Douglas R Fraser

doi:10.1016/j.tcr.2023.100954

Non-operative management strategy for blunt pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm: A case report

Trauma Case Rep. 2023 Oct 18:48:100954. doi: 10.1016/j.tcr.2023.100954. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Declan A Feery¹, Kevin Kuruvilla¹, Allison G McNickle¹, Douglas R Fraser¹

Affiliation

¹ Division of Trauma, Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada Las Vegas, 1701 W Charleston Blvd #400, Las Vegas, NV 89102, United States of America.

Abstract

Traumatic pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAP) are rare findings and are often associated with penetrating trauma to the chest. We present a case of a pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm following blunt trauma. A 49-year-old man presented after a motor vehicle collision. Contrast enhanced computed tomography scans of the neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis were obtained demonstrating a proximal right pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm, small volume hemopericardium, left first rib fracture, and focal non-flow limiting dissection of left subclavian artery. For the management of right PAP, we adopted a non-operative management strategy with an esmolol infusion for strict heart rate and blood pressure control. An echocardiogram was obtained the next day revealing no cardiac tamponade. Angiography of the chest was done after 24 h which showed stable appearance of the right PAP and hemopericardium. Patient was discharged home on hospital day 11.

Keywords: Aneurysm; Blunt trauma; Case report; Motor vehicle crash; Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm.

Publication types

Case Reports