Solitary peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysms. Pathogenesis and surgical treatment
Ungaro, R.; Saab, S.; Almond, C.H.; Kumar, S.
Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery 71(4): 566-571
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-5223 PMID: 946675 Document Number: 97611
The case of a solitary peripheral pulmonary artery aneurysm in a patient with congenital heart disease and secondary pulmonary hypertension is presented. The aneurysm appeared following an episode of bacterial [Staphylococcus aureus] endocarditis and was probably mycotic in origin. Resection was prompted by a recent increase in size. A successful aneurysmectomy was performed. Lobectomy was the procedure employed in 7 other reported cases treated surgically. A brief review of the literature emphasizes the necessity for resection whenever the diagnosis is made to prevent a fatal outcome due to rupture. A classification of pulmonary artery aneurysms based on their etiology is proposed, together with a possible explanation for the pathogenesis of peripheral aneurysms of nonspecific etiology.