BRONCHIAL OBSTRUCTION SECONDARY TO AORTIC PSEUDOANEURYSM - TREATMENT WITH AN EXPANDABLE METALLIC STENT

Penetrating atherosclerotic aortic ulceration is a recently described pathologic process in which intimal ulceration penetrates into the und erlying media and forms a hematoma [1, 2]. We describe a patient with this disease and with the presenting symptom of dyspnea resulting from left-sided bronchial compression. This process was initiated by a pse udoaneurysm of the proximal descending aorta caused by a penetrating u lcer. The patient was treated by placement of an expandable metallic s tent in the left mainstem bronchus.