The pulmonary artery stump syndrome

The interesting paper by Gorospe et  al refers to a pulmonary artery (PA) pseudoaneurysm rupture, a post-pneumonectomy complication, that merits some comments.1 In lung hilar cancers, the extra-pericardic PA trunk, when found close to the tumor or metastatic lymph nodes, can be involved by a secondary lymphangitis or can be damaged b y previous catheterization, neo-adjuvant radiotherapy, proximal lung inflammation, and sharp surgical dissection. These conditions, mainly when associated with a PA hypertension, represent risk factors for a post-pneumonectomy syndrome, in particular for a sub-type that we identify as the “pulmona ry artery stump syndrome.” It mainly consists in aneurysm, pseudo-aneurysm, dissection, thrombosis, and fistula with the main bronchus, affecting the PA stump after pneumonectomy, often diagnosed when further complicated with a sudden hemothorax/hemopericardium, thromboembolism to the contralatera l PA branch, and massive hemoptysis.
Source: Surgery - Category: Surgery Authors: Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research