Pulmonary aneurysm, or more precisely, pulmonary aneurysm, is a very rare type of aneurysm - the frequency of its occurrence is estimated at 1: 14,000 autopsies. Pulmonary aneurysm most often causes death, which makes it one of the most serious diseases of the blood system. What are the causes and symptoms of a pulmonary aneurysm? What is the treatment of patients with this rare disease?
Pulmonary artery aneurysmispulmonary artery dilatationby more than 50 percent of its normal diameter (it is assumed that its width is not should exceed 30 mm). As in the case of aortic aneurysm, a significant widening of the pulmonary artery and thus weakening of its walls can lead to rupture and death.
Contents:
- What is a pulmonary artery and what is its function?
- Pulmonary aneurysm: causes
- Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery: symptoms
- Pulmonary aneurysm: diagnosis
- Pulmonary Aneurysm: Treatment
What is a pulmonary artery and what is its function?
The pulmonary arteryis a branch of the pulmonary trunk - a vessel that begins at the mouth of the right ventricle. There are two pulmonary arteries: right and left. The right pulmonary artery lies posterior to the ascending aorta and superior vena cava, and anterior to the right bronchus. The left pulmonary artery runs anteriorly from the descending aorta and the left bronchus. In addition, it is much thinner and shorter than its right counterpart. Their task is to supply venous, i.e. used (deoxygenated) blood from the right ventricle to the left (left pulmonary artery) and right (right pulmonary artery) lung, where this blood is oxygenated.
Pulmonary aneurysm: causes
Causes of a pulmonary aneurysm may be congenital or acquired.
Congenital dilatation of the pulmonary trunk is extremely rarely detected. They are diagnosed in 6 out of 1000 patients diagnosed with congenital heart disease (most often with large left-right shunt). Another congenital cause of this type of aneurysm may be a deficiency in the vessel wall.
Acquired pulmonary aneurysm is mainly caused by pulmonary vascular disease that leads toincrease of pulmonary vascular resistance and hypertension in the pulmonary artery, and thus its expansion.
It is assumed that apart from pulmonary artery hypertension, the dilatation of the vessel is influenced by factors related to the individually variable structure of the vessel walls.
Other, rarer causes of a pulmonary aneurysm are:
- acquired heart defects - usually mitral stenosis
- lung cancer
- infection with tuberculosis (e.g. Rasmussen's aneurysm), bacteria (e.g. pale spirochete, which causes syphilis) and fungi (aneurysm as a complication of fungal pneumonia)
- systemic vasculitis (Hughes-Stovin's disease, Behcet's disease), connective tissue diseases (Marfan's syndrome)
Aneurysm of the pulmonary artery: symptoms
Pulmonary aneurysm may be asymptomatic. Then it is usually diagnosed during routine diagnostic tests or during the diagnosis of other diseases. However, as the walls of the pulmonary artery expand, poor exercise tolerance, exercise dyspnea, general weakness, coughing and sometimes hemoptysis appear.
Pulmonary aneurysm: diagnosis
Diagnosis is made on the basis of TTE (transthoracic echocardiography) and computed tomography. Angiography is also used.
Pulmonary Aneurysm: Treatment
Surgical treatment should be the treatment of choice due to the high risk of vessel dilation and rupture, which may lead to death. This treatment consists of excision of the aneurysm and implantation of a plastic prosthesis.
In severe cases, the methods of treatment may be lung or heart transplantation.