A case of hemothorax resulting from pulmonary arteriovenous fistula during pregnancy
Keiko Yamamotoa,b Akira Sudaa Tomohiko Iidac Yoshiya Suzukid Mitsuhiro Abea Toshihide Shinozakia
aDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital
bDepartment of Internal Medicine, Chiba Rosai Hospital
cDepartment of Thoracic Surgery, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital
dDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kimitsu Chuo Hospital
A 35-year-old woman at 20 weeks of gestation was admitted to our hospital because of left chest pain. She was diagnosed as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) at the age of 27; however, follow-up had not been done. Enhanced chest computed tomography scans demonstrated left pleural effusion and nodular lesions communicating with a dilated pulmonary artery and vein in both lungs. With the presence of bloody effusion from her left thoracic cavity, we diagnosed her as hemothorax because of the rupture of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (pAVF). Although the hemorrhage was stopped by conservative therapy, the risk of rerupture seemed high; therefore she had a partial pulmonary excision. After the operation, she delivered a normal child by Caesarean section at 36 weeks of gestation.
Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula Pleural hemorrhage Pregnancy
Received 22 March 2013 / Accepted 21 Jun 2013
AJRS, 2(6): 782-787, 2013