Trans-arterial Embolization in a Patient with Unilateral Absence of Pulmonary Artery: Treatment Success and the Four-year Prognosis

Intern Med. 2022 Aug 1;61(15):2343-2346. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.8667-21. Epub 2022 Jan 13.

Abstract

Unilateral absence of the pulmonary artery (UAPA) with or without other anomalies in the heart is a rare congenital malformation. A 55-year-old Filipino woman without a remarkable medical history was admitted to our hospital for hemoptysis. Contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed the absence of the left pulmonary artery. Echocardiography and right heart catheterization showed no cardiac malformations or pulmonary hypertension. We diagnosed her with isolated left-sided UAPA and performed transarterial embolization of the left inferior phrenic artery. This resolved the hemoptysis, and there was no recurrence during the four-year follow-up period.

Keywords: angiography; cardiovascular malformation; embolization; hemoptysis.

MeSH terms

  • Embolization, Therapeutic*
  • Female
  • Heart Defects, Congenital*
  • Hemoptysis / etiology
  • Hemoptysis / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lung / blood supply
  • Lung Diseases* / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Vascular Malformations*