Hemoptysis after COVID: Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm treated with endovascular coiling

Abstract

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms are a rare but life-threatening cause of hemoptysis. These are saccular dilatations of the pulmonary artery which do not involve all the three layers of the vessel and are prone to rupture. PAPAs are most commonly associated with infections but may also be caused by vasculitis, lung fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension and a multitude of other causes. CT pulmonary angiography is the diagnostic modality of choice allowing delineation of the PAPA, underlying cause and allowing planning of further management. Although treating the underlying cause is an important part of management, endovascular intervention is required in cases with hemoptysis. Long COVID is an entity that is still under evaluation. It has multisystem involvement. We describe the case of a 30-year-old teacher with hemoptysis after COVID who was diagnosed with a PAPA of segmental branch of left upper lobar pulmonary artery and treated with endovascular embolization with coils and glue. His hemoptysis has stopped since then. He also had pulmonary fibrosis and growth of multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in sputum. These were treated medically and he has resumed his work as a teacher.

Keywords

• Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm
• Long COVID
• Endovascular coiling
• Pulmonary fibrosis