Silent but Deadly: A Conservative Approach to Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm.

Abstract

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAPAs) are rare and potentially fatal vascular complications that often require early detection. Most common etiologies are infection and trauma (including iatrogenic from procedures like pulmonary artery catheterization or lung biopsy). Early clinical signs include hemoptysis, dyspnea, and hemodynamic instability. Diagnostic workup should always include appropriate imaging modality, with computerized tomography (CT) and CT angiography as important diagnostic tools. Given the limited number of reported cases, treatment is not definitive and is largely guided by symptoms and patient present. In the case of massive hemoptysis, coil embolization or pulmonary vascular stenting is the preferred option. In the current case of asymptomatic PAPA, we will outline a more conservative approach to treating PAPA.