A novel surgical approach for multiple bronchial artery aneurysms

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• Bronchial artery aneurysms (BAAs) are rare vascular abnormalities, often linked with bronchiectasis.
• BAAs can present asymptomatically or with severe hemoptysis, necessitating intervention.
• Current management guidelines recommend intervention for all diagnosed BAAs.

Observation:

• A patient presented with multiple BAAs and cystic bronchiectasis.
• The condition ranged from incidental finding to life-threatening bleeding.
• Surgical intervention was deemed necessary despite the availability of interventional procedures.

Findings:

• The case involved surgical management of multiple BAAs and cystic bronchiectasis.
• A left lower lobectomy was performed.
• Localized descending thoracic aorta (DTA) replacement with feeding artery plication was achieved via left posterolateral thoracotomy.

Implications:

• Surgical management, including thoracotomy, remains a viable option for complex BAA cases.
• This approach may be particularly useful for multiple BAAs associated with bronchiectasis.
• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is an emerging alternative for BAA management.