Bilateral lung transplant with pulmonary artery reconstruction using donor aorta for pulmonary hypertension with a giant pulmonary arterial aneurysm.

OBJECTIVES: Standard bilateral lung transplantation (BLT) is not feasible for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) complicated with a giant pulmonary arterial aneurysm (PAA). This study aimed to describe the outcomes of BLT with pulmonary artery reconstruction (PAR) using donor aorta for such patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-centre study reviewing PAH patients with a PAA who received BLT with PAR using donor aorta from January 2010 through December 2020. We compared the characteristics and short- and long-term outcomes of recipients receiving PAR (PAR group) with those who had no PAA and received standard BLT (non-PAR group). RESULTS: Nineteen adult PAH patients underwent cadaveric lung transplantation during the study period. Among them, 5 patients with a giant PAA (median pulmonary artery trunk diameter, 69.9 mm) underwent BLT with PAR using donor aorta and the others received standard BLT. Although the operation time tended to be longer in the PAR group compared with the non-PAR group (1239 vs 958 mins, P = 0.087), 90-day mortality (PAR group: 0% vs non-PAR group: 14.3%, P > 0.99), and 5-year survival rate (PAR group: 100% vs non-PAR group: 85.7%, P = 0.74) was comparable between the groups. No dilatation, constriction or infection of the aortic grafts were recorded during the study period with a median follow-up time of 94 months in the PAR group. CONCLUSIONS: Lung transplantation with PAR using donor aorta is a valid surgical option for PAH patients complicated with a giant PAA.

Transcatheter embolization for idiopathic peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysm: A case report.

The natural history of idiopathic peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysms (PAAs) is unclear; however, they can cause sudden death by rupture. Our case illustrates the utility and low invasiveness of transcatheter embolization using an AMPLATZER™ Vascular Plug 4 and hydrogel-coated metallic coils in patients with idiopathic peripheral PAAs.

Can Behcet's Disease Related Pulmonary Arterial Aneurysms be Completely Resolved?

Behçet disease is a systemic disease with diverse clinical symptoms which include, but not limited to, patients having oral and genital ulcers and eye involvement. We here report an 18-year-old male presenting with massive hemoptysis and cardiac arrest, having history of ulcers in the oral cavity and genitalia as well as having recent episode of uveitis. A pulmonary CT angiography revealed bilateral arterial aneurysms of pulmonary vessels. On receiving Immunosuppressive treatment for Behcet disease with prednisone and azathioprine over one year the pulmonary arterial aneurysms were completely resolved and the patient was discharged from the hospital albeit with persistent hypoxic brain injury from cardiac arrest.