Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm in a covid survivor

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pseudoaneurysm of the pulmonary artery (PAP) is a rare cause of hemoptysis with a wide array of aetiologies. This case report discusses our clinical experience of PAP associated with pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) in a COVID survivor. Case Report A 58-year-old gentleman presented with a 1-week history of high-grade fever and progressive dry cough. Four weeks before his presentation, he was treated for mildly symptomatic COVID-19 infection with unusually high doses of steroids. On admission, a chest x-ray and CT chest showed a cavitatory lesion in the right lower lobe. He underwent a FOB with BAL and endobronchial biopsy, which were inconclusive. On day 5 of his hospital admission, he had an episode of massive hemoptysis leading to hemodynamic instability. CT showed an increase in the size of the cavity and a pulmonary angiogram showed the descending segmental branch of the right pulmonary artery traversing through the consolidative cavitating lesion with focal dilatation of the same measuring up to 1.5 x 1.9 cm. Consistent hemostasis couldn't be achieved after gluing an interlock coiling of pseudoaneurysm, hence he underwent video-assisted thoracic surgery for right lower lobectomy and stump ligation of the right lobar pulmonary artery. Lobectomy specimen on histopathology revealed large areas of necrosis with aseptate fungal hyphae. He responded well to antifungal therapy during follow on 4th week post discharge. Conclusion: Mucormycosis is characterized by angioinvasion, vessel thrombosis, and subsequent tissue thrombosis. Pseudoaneurysm formation is rarely seen in PM and can be associated with fatal hemoptysis. Irrational use of systemic steroids in the management of COVID makes the patient more vulnerable to an otherwise rare disease.