How serious is a pulmonary artery aneurysm?

The mortality rate associated with the rupture of a pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) or PAPA has been reported from 50–100%; death is secondary to aspiration and asphyxia after intrapulmonary hemorrhage (3-6). PAA can also lead to dissection of the pulmonary artery and sudden cardiac death (2,7).

How common is a pulmonary aneurysm?

Pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) is a rare abnormality of pulmonary vasculature. Its incidence has been estimated to be 1 in 14,000 by most studies based on the findings from 109,571 autopsies conducted at the Mayo clinic.

What causes pulmonary aneurysm?

Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) are uncommon entities. PAAs are caused mostly by trauma (often iatrogenic), infections and Behcet’s disease (BD). Less common causes are pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease and neoplasm.

How is a pulmonary artery aneurysm treated?

Treatment can be either conservative (medical) or surgical. Surgical repair is recommended if the aneurysms are large, > 6 cm, or if they are symptomatic, regardless of the size, because the risk of rupture or dissection is high in the case of symptoms.

Can pulmonary artery be repaired?

Surgical repair of the branch pulmonary arteries is a common procedure in congenital heart disease surgery and is often performed as part of a complex reintervention.

What happens when you have an aneurysm in your lung?

An aortic aneurysm or dissection that ruptures into the lung parenchyma or erodes into a bronchus can lead to acute, massive hemoptysis, but presentation with hemosputum and hoarseness is rare.

Can an aneurysm be caused by stress?

Strong emotions, such as being upset or angry, can raise blood pressure and can subsequently cause aneurysms to rupture.

Can you put a stent in the pulmonary artery?

Introduction. Pulmonary artery (PA) balloon angioplasty and/or stenting (PA rehabilitation), is one of the most common procedures performed in cardiac catheterization laboratories treating congenital heart disease.

Are there 2 pulmonary arteries?

The pulmonary trunk is a short and stout (wide) structure that is about 5 cm in length and 3 cm in diameter, which branches into 2 pulmonary arteries; the left and right pulmonary arteries, which act to deliver deoxygenated blood to its respective lung.

What does a pulmonary aneurysm look like?

The most common radiographic manifestations of pulmonary artery aneurysms consist of round or oval perihilar opacities or rapidly progressive, unilateral hilar enlargement. Contrast-enhanced CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) show focal dilation of one or more pulmonary arteries.