Bronchial-pulmonary artery fistula after unilateral lung transplantation: a case report

We report on a right bronchial-pulmonary artery fistula resulting in fatal hemoptysis in a 54-year-old man, 3 months after right unilateral transplantation for end-stage emphysema. The posttransplantation period was complicated by ulcerative tracheobronchial aspergillosis. Early treatment with itraconazole was performed. All samples of bronchial washing, bronchoalveolar lavage, and bronchial and transbronchial biopsy specimens were free of aspergillus after 3 weeks of treatment. Necropsy showed a fistula between the right pulmonary artery and the main right bronchus, situated just beneath the suture line.