Compression of adjacent anatomical structures by pulmonary artery dilation

ABSTRACT

Pulmonary hypertension is the commonest condition leading to dilated pulmonary artery. We describe three different types of compression of adjacent anatomical structures by dilated pulmonary arteries. We included involvement of the left main coronary artery, left recurrent laryngeal nerve and tracheobronchial tree. Compression of these structures can cause major complications such as myocardial ischemia, hoarseness and major airway stenosis. We present a case for each scenario and review the literature for each of these complications, focusing on patients’ characteristics and contemporary management.

KEYWORDS:

• Dilated pulmonary artery
• left main coronary artery
• left recurrent laryngeal nerve
• tracheobronchial tree
• pulmonary hypertension

Acknowledgement

We thank Dr Amar Krishnaswamy for providing the IVUS image shown in Figure 1.

Financial and competing interests disclosure

A Tonelli was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) CTSA KL2 [Grant # TR000440] (A.R.T.) from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the NIH and NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

A Tonelli was supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) CTSA KL2 [Grant # TR000440] (A.R.T.) from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), a component of the NIH and NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.