Introduction

Hemoptysis is a rare presentation of a thoracic aortic aneurysm. Even with emergency handling, it is a warning sign of life-threatening, usually fatal, complications[1].

Pseudoaneurysm is defined as an encapsulated, reperfused, pulsatile hematoma in communication with a damaged vessel’s lumen. It originates from a disruption of the arterial wall due to arterial pressure. The blood dissects in the adjacent tissues to the damaged artery and causes an aneurysmal sac that communicates with the arterial lumen[2]. Thoracic aortic aneurysms expand slowly and, generally, silently. This silent process makes it difficult to diagnose early. There is a difference between pseudoaneurysm and aneurysm: the latter is formed histologically by all the arterial layers[1].

Hemoptysis is a very rare sign/symptom of the presentation of thoracic aortic aneurysms and, therefore, of thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysms[3],[4]. Parenchyma or airway pulmonary erosion induces the coughing up of blood and massive hemoptysis, which is potentially dangerous and deadly[5]. Among the studies to be performed, the chest X-ray is the first examination to locate the issue, showing mediastinal widening. On the other hand, ultrasound in the patient’s bed is used widely by emergency physicians to help diagnose life-threatening pathological cardiovascular conditions, such as aortic aneurysm[6]; additionally, the performance of a thoracic tomography with contrast confirms the presence of thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic pseudoaneurysms[7].

This report aims to communicate a rare presentation of hemoptysis in a pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta.

Patient information

An 82-year-old male patient, who in November 2019 presented a moderate amount of hemoptysis (approx. ± 300 ml), went to the emergency room at the Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo. After being attended to, he requested a voluntary discharge from the hospital. In January 2020, he presented a new hemoptysis episode, was readmitted to the emergency department, and then to the pulmonology service.

Two months before being admitted to the pulmonology service, he reported having dyspnea, chest pain, and a coughing episode with hemoptoic sputum. When he was treated in our hospital’s emergency room, a chest X-ray was requested, reporting: ectasia of the aortic arch + signs of right basal interstitium and two sputum smear microscopies that were negative. When symptoms improved, the patient requested voluntary discharge.

Clinical findings

On admission (01/29/2020): physical examination, BP: 90/60 mmHg RR: 20x ‘HR: 83x’ SatO2: 93% FIO2: 21%.

General assessment: patient in apparent regular general condition, regular nutritional status, and regular hydration status, spontaneously ventilating without supplemental oxygen.

Skin and mucosa: Pale + / +++, capillary refill <2 seconds.

Respiratory system: Decreased vocal thrill, decreased vocal resonance and decreased vesicular murmur in left hemithorax.

Cardiovascular system: Rhythmic and regular heart sounds, no murmurs, synchronous heart sounds with radial pulses. Tibial and pedial pulses present ++ / +++.

Blood pressure values in limbs were:

• Right upper limb: 110/70 millimeters of mercury.
• Left upper limb: 100/70 millimeters of mercury.
• Right lower limb: 90/60 millimeters of mercury.
• Left lower limb: 80/60 millimeters of mercury.

Additional tests: Hb: 8.8 gr/dl. Hematocrit: 27.8%. Hemogram: leukocytosis with no left shift. Platelets: 507 mm³.

Diagnostic assessment

Chest radiography (Figure 1): Opacification at the level of the mid and upper field of the left hemithorax with irregular contours in relation to pneumonia, elevation of the left hemidiaphragm, no caverns, and normal cardiac area.

Figure 1.

Chest X-ray (admission hospitalization): Opacification at the level of the mid and upper field of the left hemithorax with irregular contours in relation to pneumonia. Elevation of the left hemidiaphragm.

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Day 2 of hospitalization

Control exams: Hto: 25%, PT: 31.2 seconds, PTT: 13.5 seconds, e INR: 0.97, Reticulocytes: 1.27% and Platelets: 478 000.

High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the lungs (Figure 2) reported: thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm, declining pleural fluid associated with areas of left-side aneumatosis and nonspecific subacute interstitial lung disease, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, left hemidiaphragm, and dorsal osteoarthrosis.

Figure 2.

HRCT of the lungs (Day 2 of hospitalization): Pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta (arrow), with signs of acute rupture. Decline in pleural fluid.

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Day 16 of hospitalization

Aortic angiotomography with and without contrast in 3D (Figure 3) concluded: atherosclerosis + aortic elongation + saccular aneurysm of descending aorta. Segmental atelectasis of the left lower lobe with hemidiaphragm elevation and ipsilateral pleural effusion. Signs of pulmonary fibrosis. Dorsal spondyloarthritis.

Figure 3.

Angiotomography 3D (Day 16 of hospitalization): Atherosclerosis + aortic elongation + Saccular aneurysm of descending aorta (arrows).

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Table 1.

Schedule of procedures and discharge.

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Therapeutic intervention

Due to the decrease in hematocrit, a packet of blood was transfused on day 16 of hospitalization, raising the hematocrit to 28%.

Follow-up and outcomes

During his hospitalization in the Pneumology Department, the patient remained in complete rest and did not show any discomfort despite having four hemoptysis episodes of approximately 50 ml, the penultimate episode coming on day 17 of hospitalization with approximately 10 ml of bleeding.

During the wait for a transfer to a high-resolution capacity hospital (Lima), daily coordination was carried out to manage complicated cardiovascular disease. Before transferring the patient, on day 28 of hospitalization, he presented sudden massive hemoptysis and died.

Discussion

Most aortic aneurysms are asymptomatic and are found during radiological evaluation for other causes[1],[8]. The aorta is very susceptible to tearing in two places: immediately adjacent to the heart at the aorta’s origin and, posteriorly, distal to the left subclavian, where the aorta is fixed in the region of the spinal column. The tear in the first place usually causes sudden death, preventing the aneurysm from developing. In other cases, the intima and media may divide transversely. However, if the adventitia remains intact, a pulsatile hematoma forms and later causes a false aneurysm (pseudoaneurysm)[2]. The resulting hematoma can prevent bleeding for hours or weeks if sudden death does not occur. More prolonged survival is associated with forming a false aneurysm[9],[10].

Aneurysms can produce respiratory manifestations due to compression and obstruction of either the bronchia or trachea. Less frequently, an aortobronchial fistula occurs, which, as in the case we described, can be fatal in a short time due to massive hemorrhage[11],[12]. The primary manifestation was hemoptysis of mild to moderate intensity that disappeared spontaneously and was maintained for approximately three months until the moment of the patient’s death as a result of massive hemoptysis.

There is little information on hemoptysis associated with a ruptured aortic aneurysm; the presence of an aortopulmonary fistula does not explain its mechanism. Among the hypotheses used to explain this phenomenon is the bronchial arteries’ ability to become hyperplastic and tortuous in the presence of a lesion that modifies the lung architecture—as it is more susceptible to rupture. There are also descriptions of the pulmonary parenchyma’s direct lesions due to a ruptured aneurysm[13],[14].

This case illustrates that we must consider the differential diagnosis of hemoptysis, aortic aneurysms, and pseudoaneurysms, among other causes.

This case illustrates why we must consider hemoptysis as a warning sign in the differential diagnosis of aortic aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms that place people at risk of death.

Patient perspective

He was not aware of the seriousness of the case. The patient died on day 28 of hospitalization.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis for possible treatment with endovascular techniques such as the placement of a “stent” to carry out a selective embolization of the pseudoaneurysm sac is warranted[15].

Notes

Authorship roles
LRH, DRC: Conceptualization, methodology, software, validation, formal analysis, investigation, resources, data curation, writing original draft, writing review and editing, visualization, supervision, project administration, funding acquisition. LCU, JHV: Conceptualization, methodology, validation, software, formal analysis, investigation, resources, writing original draft, writing review and editing, visualization.

Conflicts of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest and sent the ICMJE formats to Medwave.

Financing
The authors declare that they have not received any funding for this study.

Ethical considerations
The patient’s granddaughter has signed the informed consent requested by Medwave. Patient privacy has been scrupulously respected. The Hospital authorized the study by reviewing the medical history. A consent copy was sent to the publisher of the magazine.

From the editors
The original version of this manuscript was submitted in Spanish. This English version was submitted by the authors and has been copyedited by the Journal.