Postpneumonectomy aortic arch mycotic aneurysm

A 31-year-old woman who had undergone left pneumonectomy for a tuberculosis -destroyed left lung 3 years previously presented in respiratory distress a fter a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia and aspiration pneumonia. Inve stigation revealed a large aortic arch aneurysm as well as a filling defect in the descending thoracic aortic lumen. Emergency aortic arch reconstruct ion was performed for a massive pseudoaneurysm or contained rupture filling the entire postpneumonectomy space. Pathologic and microbiological examina tion demonstrated Aspergillus fumigatus and active inflammation. (C) 2001 b y The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.