ABSTRACT
In recent years, re-rupture due to endoleaks after thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysms has become a problem. Hemoptysis has been reported in patients after pneumocentesis. We report a patient who developed delayed hemoptysis not related to endoleak after TEVAR. An 80-year-old male underwent emergent TEVAR due to a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm accompanying sudden hemoptysis. Eleven days after the operation, recurrent hemoptysis was noted, but contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) revealed no endoleak or re-rupture. Bronchoscopy demonstrated hemorrhage from the left upper lobe. As hemostasis was difficult by conservative treatment, left upper lobectomy was performed. The aortic rupture hole exhibited thrombus, and there was no hemorrhage. On histopathological examination of the resected lung, formation accompanied by severe intra-alveolar fibrosis and cholesterin clefts, and marked foreign body reactions in the interstitium and small blood vessels of the lung were observed. Cholesterol embolism is associated with not only organ ischemia due to microembolism, but also immunological mechanisms. Thus, cholesterol embolism due to aorta-derived cholesterin may have led to the delayed pulmonary hemorrhage. Differentiation from re-rupture due to endoleaks is important.
