Pulmonary Atelectasis from a Posttraumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Thoracic Aorta

Abstract

Atelectasis of the left lung due to tracheobronchial compression is a rare complication of posttraumatic pseudoaneurysms of the thoracic aorta. We describe the case of a 57-year-old man with a chronic posttraumatic pseudoaneurysm of the thoracic aorta with acute progressive dyspnea and complete atelectasis of the left lung. The patient underwent aneurysmectomy with an interposition of a Dacron graft using both median sternotomy and lateral thoracotomy. A diagnosis of posttraumatic aneurysm should be considered in patients with both acute left pulmonary atelectasis and a history of major chest trauma. A review of the literature regarding this clinical condition is also discussed.