J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2003 Jun;14(2):206-209.

A Case of an Aortic Arch Aneurysm in which a Fistula Formed Between the Pulmonary Parenchyma

• Wi JS
• Han SC
• Jeoung ST
• Yun YY
• Jeoung KW
• Moon JM
• Chun BJ
• Heo T
• Min YI

Abstract

Massive hemoptysis represents a major medical emergency that is associated with high mortality. The causes of hemoptysis are various and include pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders and trauma. The causes of pulmonary disorder are tuberculosis, bronchiectasis, abscess, malignancy, bronchitis, and fungal infection. The causes of cardiovascular disorder are mitral stenosis, pulmonary embolism, and congestive heart failure. A fistula between an aortic aneurysm and the pulmonary parenchyma is one of the causes of hemoptysis, but it is a rare. However, if undiagnosed, it is a uniformly fatal cause of massive hemoptysis. This is a case of bleeding from a fistula between an aortic arch aneurysm and a lung parenchyma in a patient with an aortic arch aneurysm who presented with massive hemoptysis. He had suffered intermittent hemoptysis since he was diagnosed with an aortic arch aneurysm three years before. A high clinical suspicion must be maintained when a history of intermittent hemoptysis is obtained in patients with an aortic aneurysm or prior aortic graft surgery.

Keyword

Hemoptysis; Aortic aneurysm; Fistula

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Aneurysm*
Aorta, Thoracic*
Aortic Aneurysm
Bronchiectasis
Bronchitis
Emergencies
Fistula*
Heart Failure
Hemoptysis
Hemorrhage
Humans
Lung
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Mortality
Pulmonary Embolism
Transplants
Tuberculosis