Airway Obstruction Due to Giant Pulmonary Artery Aneurysms
Large pulmonary artery aneurysms are rare, but they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Significant airway obstruction due to extrinsic compression solely by a pulmonary artery aneurym is an extremely rare occurrence. We present a case of large bilateral pulmonary artery aneurysms causing extrinsic airway compression with collapse of the left primary bronchus in a 51-year-old woman. This is the first report in an adult in which airway compression due solely to the pulmonary artery aneurysm resulted in airway collapse. Furthermore, we describe the use of interventional bronchoscopy with stent placement as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for treatment of these patients.

Pulmonary artery aneurysms (PAAs) are rare. Depending on their size and location, they may lead to significant complications including airway compromise in rare cases. We believe we are presenting the first reported case of an adult with bilateral PAAs in which both primary bronchi were markedly narrowed resulting in airway collapse. Only one other case of airway occlusion in an adult, which was due to a vascular aneurysm, has been reported, but in that case both the aorta and pulmonary artery were involved.