Surgical treatment of a pulmonary artery aneurysm

We would like to report a rare case of post-stenotic aneurysm of the pulmonary trunk and its left branch in a 51-year-old man. His cardiac disease, which was first diagnosed at the age of 4, was left untreated because of absence of symptoms and normal physical development. A CT scan, recently performed because of decrease in exercise tolerance and worsening dyspnea, showed a pulmonary artery aneurysm (52 mm × 79 mm). The echocardiography revealed a severe pulmonary commissural stenosis. Through a surgical approach the pulmonary trunk and its left branch were excised and reconstructed using a 30 mm Dacron graft; the right pulmonary branch was then reimplanted on the right side of the tube. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. He was discharged on the seventh postoperative day and there were no adverse events or complications at 1- and 3-month follow-up.     

Communication between the right pulmonary artery and left atrium with aneurysm formation

Communication between the pulmonary artery and the left atrium is a rare congenital anomaly. A 7-year-old boy was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. Referral to a pediatric cardiologist had been delayed because he had only slight cyanosis and no heart murmur. Catheterization and computed tomography scans confirmed that the right pulmonary branches and pulmonary venous returns were normal and that an additional aneurysmal communication was located between the right pulmonary artery and the left atrium. Surgery proceeded uneventfully together with a cardiopulmonary bypass. The connection from the right pulmonary artery to the aneurysm was ligated, and the connection from the left atrium to the aneurysm was closed with a polytetrafluoroethylene patch. We describe this rare anomaly with cyanosis and no heart murmur.     

左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉的诊断和外科治疗

目的总结先天性左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉的临床特点、诊断和外科治疗经验.方法1993年7月至2005年10月,外科治疗10例左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉病人,其中男5例,女5例;年龄13 d～40岁.术前均经超声心动图和心导管造影检查明确诊断.单纯左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉者3例,合并二尖瓣关闭不全6例,同时合并二尖瓣关闭不全及左心室心尖部室壁瘤1例.行异常冠状动脉结扎4例,在体外循环下行肺动脉内隧道成形术3例,升主动脉左冠状动脉开口植入术3例;同期行二尖瓣成形5例,室壁瘤切除1例.结果早期死亡1例.随访1个月～11年.1例因严重二尖瓣关闭不全而于第1次术后16个月再行二尖瓣置换术,余者无心肌缺血或梗死、残余分流和晚期死亡,心功能恢复到Ⅰ级.结论左冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉者存在明显的血流动力学和心血管形态学改变,应尽早确诊、尽快手术治疗,适当的手术方法是取得良好外科手术疗效的关键.     

Left pulmonary artery occlusion due to compression by aortic aneurysm

A 72-year-old man with shock was transferred to our emergency room. The computed tomograms revealed a ruptured giant thoracic aortic aneurysm obstructing the left pulmonary artery. Emergency total aortic arch replacement was performed, and the postoperative course was uneventful. The postoperative angiography confirmed the total occlusion in the left pulmonary artery which was due to compression by the aortic aneurysm.     

A rare complication of pre-Eisenmenger patent ductus arteriosus: Pulmonary artery dissection

INTRODUCTIONPulmonary artery dissection associated with patent ductus arteriosus is usually seen in patients with pulmonary hypertension and Eisenmenger's syndrome. This paper presents a case with pre-Eisenmenger patent ductus arteriosus complicated by pulmonary artery dissection, and explains how she was surgically treated.PRESENTATION OF CASEThe transthoracic echocardiography of a 21-year-old woman complaining of effort dyspnea revealed patent ductus arteriosus. Contrast-enhanced thoracic computed tomography scan showed patent ductus arteriosus and dissection in the main pulmonary artery extending from the edge of the patent ductus arteriosus orifice to the pulmonary valve. The patent ductus arteriosus was divided with pledgeted prolene suture and the dissected aneurysmal portion of the pulmonary artery was resected by surgery. Dacron graft interposition was applied to the main pulmonary artery.DISCUSSIONBecause rupture causes cardiogenic shock and sudden death, diagnosis is rare in the living subject and pulmonary artery dissection is frequently detected in autopsy. A case with pulmonary artery dissection as a result of patent ductus arteriosus has been reported in the literature, but the patient died in the preoperative period. In our study, the patient was not diagnosed to have Eisenmenger's syndrome, but had pulmonary artery dissection, a complication arising from patent ductus arteriosus. The patient underwent curative surgery that included pulmonary artery dissection repair and closure of the patent ductus arteriosus.CONCLUSIONIn addition to pulmonary artery aneurysm, pulmonary artery dissection must also be considered as a complication in cases of patent ductus arteriosus with high pulmonary artery pressure diagnosed in adulthood.     

David's procedure for pulmonary artery aneurysm

Pulmonary artery aneurysm (PAA) is a rare entity with fatal complications. Its silent course contributes to large aneurysms with compression symptoms. We present a 39-year-old female idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension patient with a giant PAA causing severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) and symptomatic left main coronary artery compression (LMCA). Since she had a failed LMCA stenting attempt, she underwent surgery. A valve-sparing David-like pulmonary trunk reconstruction and coronary artery bypass were performed. This case illustrates that David-like reconstruction procedure can be applied to the PAA with severe PR.     

Idiopathic pulmonary artery aneurysm

A 60-year-old male being treated for chronic venous stasis ulcers presented with an asymptomatic pulmonary artery aneurysm involving the main pulmonary trunk and extending into both pulmonary arteries. He underwent successful resection of the aneurysm, and his chronic ulcerations recovered spontaneously. Surgical treatment of pulmonary artery aneurysm could be found in reports from Wilms and Sauerbruch dating from the early twenties of the last century. In 1950, Blades et al. reported a ligation of an aneurysmatic pulmonary artery with lung resection. However, the role of surgery in main pulmonary artery aneurysms is still not well defined. In this report, we describe the management of an extensive pulmonary artery aneurysm in a patient with chronic venous stasis ulcers.     

冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉的外科治疗

目的总结冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉的外科治疗经验及疗效随访分析。方法从1999年4月至2005年8月共对12例冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉的患者进行了外科治疗,其中左冠状动脉起源异常8例,右冠状动脉起源异常4例。异常起源的冠状动脉直接吻合到主动脉9例,应用Takeuchi技术,即肺动脉内隧道重建冠状动脉3例。有7例左冠状动脉起源异常的患者,因中、重度二尖瓣关闭不全同期行二尖瓣成形;1例合并房间隔缺损的右冠状动脉起源异常的患者,同期在非体外循环下行房间隔缺损封堵术。结果无死亡及术后并发症,随访7~83个月,平均(32±24)个月,左冠状动脉起源异常的患者,左室舒张末径从术前的(45±7)mm减小至术后的(39±6)mm(P=0.011),左室短轴缩短率从术前的0.21±0.09增加至术后的0.35±0.06(P=0.006),7例二尖瓣成形的患者术后二尖瓣反流程度均减轻;所有患者活动能力正常,均无症状。结论外科治疗冠状动脉异常起源于肺动脉,需恢复2个冠状动脉系统供血;左冠状动脉起源异常的患者,术后左室功能明显改善,对中、重度二尖瓣关闭不全的患者,需同期行二尖瓣成形;外科治疗早、中期效果良好,远期结果需进一步随访。     

Graft repair of a pulmonary artery aneurysm

Aneurysm of the main pulmonary artery is a rare anomaly with a poorly understood pathogenesis. We report the successful surgical resection and repair of a pulmonary artery aneurysm using aneurysmectomy and replacement of the pulmonary artery with Dacron, a procedure with excellent longterm outcome that eliminates the risk of recurrence. The 65-year-old male patient presented with a marked decrease in exercise tolerance and worsening dyspnea. He had a history of pulmonary stenosis diagnosed during childhood, episodic shortness of breath beginning during his teenage years, hypertension, and smoking. On physical examination, the patient appeared generally well. Computed tomographic scan of the chest revealed an 8-cm aneurysm involving the main pulmonary artery and pulmonary artery bifurcation. Coronary angiography showed a massive aneurysm of the main and left pulmonary arteries, with mild dilation of the proximal right pulmonary artery. Surgery was performed through a median sternotomy with the use of normothermic, bicaval cardiopulmonary bypass. The aneurysm of the main pulmonary artery and dilated bifurcation of the pulmonary artery was excised and reconstruction was performed using a 22-mm Dacron graft. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. He was discharged to home on postoperative day 5 and was well at 1-month follow-up.     

Left pulmonary artery sling with right lung aplasia

We report 2 cases of right pulmonary aplasia with left pulmonary artery sling responsible for severe respiratory symptoms. Repositioning of the left pulmonary artery without tracheal surgery was successful in both patients. The postoperative course was simple, and the outcome was favorable at last follow-up (after 2 years and 3 months, respectively). Computed tomography provided an accurate diagnostic evaluation that helped to choose the best surgical technique.     

Spontaneous rupture of the left pulmonary artery–caused by long-term steroid use?

We describe a 71-year-old woman with spontaneous rupture of the left pulmonary artery. She was admitted with pulselessness of her left arm and lack of sensibility in her left arm and leg. Echocardiography and thoracic CT did not confirm aortic dissection. CT only showed hematoma around the descending aorta. She underwent left-sided thoracotomy. Intraoperatively, a rupture of the left pulmonary artery without any evidence of an aneurysm was found. Potentially predisposing factors for this rupture were long-term use of steroids due to COPD and her age.     

False aneurysm of right pulmonary artery. New complication of aorta-right pulmonary artery anastomosis.

The case history of an infant with tetralogy of Fallot who had a Waterston anastomosis performed at the age of 1 year is presented. Subsequent chest roentgenograms revealed a ringlike calcification which was shown at angiography and operation to be due to a false aneurysm of the right pulmonary artery at the site of the Waterston anastomosis. The aneurysm also produced unidirectional obstruction of the right pulmonary artery. A review of the literature suggested that a false aneurysm of the right pulmonary artery after a Waterson anatomosis had not been reported previously.     

Truncus arteriosus repair after palliative bilateral pulmonary artery banding

A 3.5-month-old girl was diagnosed with type I truncus arteriosus and severe pulmonary hypertension. We performed palliative bilateral pulmonary artery banding (right and left circumferences, 14 and 12 mm, respectively). Corrective repair for truncus arteriosus was then performed at 10 months of age. The good postoperative course in this patient demonstrates that palliative bilateral pulmonary artery banding is a useful surgical option for truncus arteriosus associated with pulmonary hypertension.     

Surgical management of the coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistulas; a case of a large ruptured aneurysm

Three patients were treated for coronary artery-pulmonary artery fistula. Each was asymptomatic due to a coronary artery fistula. There was one instance each of myocardial infarction, mitral stenosis and a large closed ruptured aneurysm including a thrombus. All the fistulas were comprised of several small plexiform arranged vessels. The left to right shunt ratio was approximately 8 per cent or less. A surgical operation was performed to close the drainage orifice of the fistulas through pulmonary arteriotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass in two patients while one patient underwent a ligation of a large abnormal vessel to the aneurysm followed by a resection of the aneurysm without cardiopulmonary bypass. A large saccular aneurysm of such fistulas is rare and a rupture of such an aneurysm is even more rare. The surgical management of coronary artery fistulas is also discussed herein.     

Acquired pulmonary stenosis and pulmonary artery compression

Three patients suffering from acquired pulmonary stenosis are described resulting from compression of the main pulmonary artery by anterior mediastinal teratoma, Hodgkin's disease, and aneurysm of the ascending aorta, respectively; also four others who had compression of the right or left primary branch of the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery compression was demonstrated angiographically in every case, and in the patient with right and left pulmonary artery compression the main pulmonary artery pressure tracing was characteristic of bilateral pulmonary artery stenosis. Cardiac catheterization and selective angiography are indicated in patients who have evidence of right ventricular outflow obstruction to determine the site and severity of the obstruction and to differentiate between extrinsic compression and intrinsic stenosis.     

简易肺动脉导管在心脏直视术后的临床应用

目的通过术中置放简易肺动脉导管（PACs,硬膜外留置管）进行肺动脉压和混合静脉压氧饱和度（SvO2）监测,观察其在术后监测的作用。方法对52例心脏直视术后,并行简易肺动脉导管监测的病人临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果21例病人有不同程度的肺动脉高压（PAP）,12例患者肺动脉舒张压（DPAP）偏低,13例患者DPAP升高,9例患者SvO2低于50％。予以相应处理后．上述参数有所改善。结论心脏直视术后简易肺动脉导管监测可以有效指导临床处理,提高心脏直视术后的监测处理水平。     

Right pulmonary artery agenesis and coronary-to-bronchial artery aneurysm

Isolated unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly that may be complicated with hemoptysis, recurrent pulmonary infections or pulmonary hypertension. To our knowledge the occurrence of a coronary syndrome associated with a coronary-to-bronchial artery saccular aneurysmal collateralization has never been described before. A 44-year-old female presented a congenital right pulmonary artery agenesis associated with a hypotrophic and multicystic right lung complicated with recurrent bronchitis. This patient had a coronary syndrome for which the coronary artery imaging showed a coronary-to-bronchial artery collateralization with an aneurysm at this level. It gives rise to a coronary syndrome by coronary steal. Two bronchial collaterals arising from a diaphragmatic artery and the subclavian artery were also found on the computed tomography (CT)-scan. This last collateral also showed another saccular aneurysm. We first performed an embolization of those two aneurysms in order to decrease the risk of hemorrhage and coronary steal, before performing a right pneumonectomy. In this case, the surgery was indicated because of the pathological lung and the risk of postembolization ischaemia. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was doing well six months later.     

心电图对常见左向右分流的先天性心脏病合并肺动脉高压的评价

目的评价心电图对左向右分流先天性心脏病合并肺动脉高压的诊断价值。方法我院100例左向右分流先天性心脏病患者,男性60例,女性40例,室间隔缺损(VSD)40例,动脉导管未闭(PDA)35例,房间隔缺损(ASD)25例。肺动脉压力和分流均经心导管证实。分析心电图改变与肺动脉高压的关系。结果PDA和VSD患者合并肺动脉高压时,心电图改变为右心室肥大和双心室肥大,与未合并肺动脉高压的差异有统计学意义,ASD患者合并肺动脉高压的心电图改变和肺动脉压力正常的心电图改变差异无统计学意义。结论心电图对先天性心脏病(动脉导管未闭和室间隔缺损)肺动脉高压的诊断是一种简便有效的检查方法。     

肺动脉内超声成像在高压性先天性心脏病中的应用

目的：探索血管内超声（IVUS）对合并肺动脉高压的先天性心脏病病儿行肺动脉内检查的可行性，并评价肺血管病理变化。方法：对12例合并肺动脉高压的先天性心脏病病儿进行肺动脉IVUS成像，观测其管腔大小、内膜和中层的厚度以及血管的搏动性，同时对其在吸100％氧前、后的变化情况进行了比较。结果：12例病儿全部成功地进行了IVUS肺动脉成像检查。IVUS成像能够清晰观测到血管壁的三层组织学变化，中层增厚，吸氧后肺动脉搏动性明显增强。结论：IVUS肺动脉成像安全可靠，检查结果能够较好的反映肺动脉形态学变化。     

Surgical treatment for ruptured aneurysm of a coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula; report of a case

We reported a successful operative case of ruptured coronary artery aneurysm associated with coronary artery to pulmonary artery fistula. The patient was a 74-year-old woman who was admitted for syncope and chest oppression. Echocardiogram and chest CT scan revealed cardiac tamponade. Ruptured coronary aneurysm, 3 cm in diameter, was found at emergent operation. After emergent coronary angiography, which demonstrated an aneurysm arising from the left anterior descending coronary artery and draining into the pulmonary artery, orifice of draining artery to the aneurysm was closed and coronary artery fistula was ligated. She recovered smoothly and post operative angiogram revealed disappearance of the aneurysm.