z-logo
open-access-imgOpen Access
Central airway compression by massively dilated pulmonary artery in a patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension: a rare entity
Author(s) -
Biplab K. Saha,
Scott Beegle
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2019-232468
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , spirometry , pulmonary artery , pulmonary hypertension , etiology , radiology , asthma
Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) usually die from progressive right ventricular failure. Mechanical complications due to pulmonary artery (PA) enlargement are rare and include tracheobronchial and left main coronary artery compression, and PA dissection. A 62-year-old female with PAH was seen in our office for follow-up. During the evaluation, spirometry was performed, which revealed a severe obstructive ventilatory limitation. Subsequent workup identified compression of bilateral mainstem bronchi from the dilated PA as the aetiology for the abnormal spirometry. Very few cases of this rare complication have been reported in the literature. A significant dilation of the PA is necessary (>4 cm) for the occurrence of these complications. Dilation of PA is an independent risk factor for sudden unexpected death in patients with PAH.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.
Having issues? You can contact us here