Rasmussen’s aneurysm occlusion with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer in patient with hemoptysis

Excerpt

A 53-year-old man was admitted in our intensive care unit after cardiac arrest secondary to massive hemoptysis 2 weeks after diagnosis of recurrence pulmonary tuberculosis. Thoracic contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomographic angiography revealed bilateral necrotic opacities and a right upper lobe Rasmussen’s aneurysm (Fig. 1a). Right upper lobe pulmonary angiogram confirmed aneurysm developing on superior segmental artery (Fig. 1b). Segmental pulmonary artery occlusion was performed using an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer that precipitates when it comes in contact with blood to form a definitive soft spongy polymer cast. The copolymer agent is associated with tantalum powder for opacity. Then, post-interventional chest X-ray showed copolymer agent within aneurysm and distal pulmonary artery (Fig. 1c). Hemoptysis did not recur during hospitalization. Patient died 2 weeks later of an irreversible anoxic brain injury.

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