Hemoptysis as a first symptom of endoleak after thoracic endovascular aortic repair, which caused aortic rupture and required complex management

Introduction

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has become the most common procedure in the treatment of thoracic aorta aneurysms. Despite justified popularity, we should remember about potential long-term complications of this technique, which could be life-threatening [1]. Hemoptysis is a common symptom of lung tumor, especially cancer. On the other hand, hemoptysis can also be caused by bronchitis, tuberculosis, mycosis, and trauma [2].

In this case report, we present a patient with hemoptysis and lung tumor suggesting lung cancer, which was a unique symptom of type IA endoleak after TEVAR and led to thoracic aneurysm rupture.

Case report

A 63-year-old man was admitted to the Department of General and Vascular Surgery due to severe hemorrhagic shock. Concomitant diseases included uncontrolled arterial hypertension and spondylosis. In 2006 the patient underwent TEVAR because of the symptomatic aneurysm of the descending aorta with pleural effusion. In 2009, the second TEVAR was performed due to rupture of the descending aorta below the previous stent graft. The last control contrast-enhanced computed tomography (angio-CT), which was performed in the outpatient clinic in September 2011, did not reveal any graft-related complications. The aneurysmal sac even shrank in comparison to the previous angio-CT.

In January 2012, the patient suffered from severe hemoptysis. A chest X-ray and a lung CT were performed. They revealed a lung tumor infiltrating one of the bronchi and bleeding to the pulmonary alveoli, with a suggestion of lung cancer (Photo 1). Just before a planned biopsy the patient collapsed. On the basis of the next angio-CT and and chest X-ray, the lung tumor was diagnosed as the cause of the bleeding from the ruptured thoracic aorta aneurysm due to an endoleak type IA, with concomitant massive hemothorax (Photo 2). The patient was intubated and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. It was decided to perform the next TEVAR due to the severe state of the patient. Two hours after admission, endovascular treatment was performed. This third graft covered the left subclavian artery to ensure a proper proximal landing zone and ended in a distal part of the thoracic aorta. During the operation, drainage of the left pleural cavity was performed. After 5 days of intensive care, there was no satisfactory recovery. Patient was still intubated, and oxygen saturation was only 80%, despite ventilation with 70% oxygen. The drainage of the left pleural cavity was unsuccessful. Tracheotomy was performed, and a tracheal tube inserted. Repeated X-rays and angio-CT revealed compression atelectasis of the left lung, and massive thrombus in the left pleural cavity.

It was decided to perform a thoracotomy. During the operation, a massive mass (2000 ml) from the left pleural cavity was removed. It consisted of thrombus from fresh bleeding and old thrombus from the aneurysmal sac. The thrombus (300 ml) from the left lung was also removed. The ventilation parameters improved. The patient was conscious but still needed respiratory support. After 4 days, bronchoscopy was performed and a thrombus which occluded the left main bronchi was removed. After this procedure, fast recovery was observed. In 2 days, the patient was breathing by himself without any support, and the tracheal tube was removed. Covering the left subclavian artery caused no symptoms. A control chest X-ray, performed 10 days after the procedure, revealed no hemothorax and a satisfactory level of left lung ventilation (Photo 3). After 2 weeks of rehabilitation, the patient was discharged from the hospital in a favorable condition. A follow-up, performed 6 months after the procedure with angio-CT, revealed no endoleaks and a satisfactory level of left lung ventilation (Photo 4). No signs of graft infection were visible, probably due to long antibiotic therapy.

Discussion

Since 1953, the thoracic aorta aneurysm could be successfully treated with resection and synthetic graft replacement [3]. The other method of treatment is TEVAR, first described by Dake et al. in 1994 [4]. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair has become the most common procedure in the treatment of thoracic aorta aneurysms [1, 5].

The most common complications after TEVAR are endoleaks. As far as we know, endoleaks are mainly asymptomatic, and patients after TEVAR require accurate follow-up. In rare cases, despite repeated angio-CT, they may remain undetected, until they rupture [6]. Because of that, any symptom that may suggest such disease should not be overlooked. In the present case, endoleak type IA caused expansion of the aneurysmal sac and probably small rupture to the left lung, which manifested as hemoptysis. Next, because of enlarging endoleak and uncontrolled hypertension, the patient suffered rupture of the aneurysmal sac to the left pleural cavity. In most cases, rupture of the thoracic aorta aneurysm is lethal [7, 8]. In this patient, probably due to previous adhesions in the pleural cavity, the rupture resulted only in hemorrhagic shock.

Type IA endoleak is rare and means blood flow into the aneurysm sac due to incomplete seal or ineffective seal at the proximal part of the graft. This type of endoleak usually occurs in the early course of treatment [9]. In the present case, this complication occurred atypically a few years after the last stent-graft implantation and suddenly, despite regular follow-up.

The third stent-graft placement required a proximal landing zone. The only possibility was to cover the origin of the left subclavian artery. According to the literature, it is performed in up to 40.8% of cases. Revascularization of the left subclavian artery is not mandatory [10]. Only symptomatic patients, who suffer hand or brain ischemia, require surgical revascularization [11]. In the present case, blood pressure on the left arm was sufficient. Assessment of potential brain ischemia in the intubated patient was difficult, but performed transcranial Doppler examination revealed sufficient blood flow in the cerebral arteries.

The main problem after successful TEVAR was poor ventilation due to unsuccessful drainage of the left pleural cavity. We tried to avoid surgery, but the need for thoracotomy became obvious. During the left lateral thoracotomy, the thrombus from the pleural cavity was removed. It was atypical because, in most cases, blood in the pleural cavity does not create a thrombus. Probably it was an old thrombus from the aneurysmal sac or the mutilated lung initiated clot formation, which led to insufficient drainage. In the case of bronchoscopy, there was a risk of pneumothorax due to the destroyed part of the left lung and previous thoracotomy [12]. Fortunately, there was no such complication and ventilation improved, followed by extubation.

In conclusion, hemoptysis could be a unique symptom of endoleak after TEVAR. Treatment of this complication can be complex and demanding.

References

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Received: 24.10.2012, revised: 3.02.2013, accepted: 3.02.2013.