Hemoperitoneum Due to Penetrating Intercostal Artery Injury: A Case Report of a Rare and Still Understudied Entity

Intercostal artery injury may be life-threatening and usually presents as hemothorax. We report a unique case of penetrating injury, causing hemoperitoneum due to intercostal artery injury, without thoracic involvement. During urgent laparotomy, no intra-abdominal organ injury was found. Hemostasis was successfully achieved via suturing through an additional lateral 10cm incision through the left thorax.

Aortic Intramural Hematoma due to Intercostal Artery Aneurysms

Background Intercostal artery aneurysms (ICA) are rare vascular disease. A rupture of ICA is a possible mechanism of intramural aortic hematoma (IH). We report a case with IH and ICAs without clear etiology. Case presentation: A 64-year-old man was admitted to our emergency room with a sudden onset of acute diffused abdominal and chest pain, radiating to the back. Without previous traumatic insult, a computed tomographic angiography scan (CTA) revealed an IH beginning inferior to the left subclavian artery extending to the level of the celiac trunk. Follow-up CTA demonstrated a stable maximal IH thickness diameter of 11 mm, maximal aortic diameter of 40 mm, a new left hemorrhagic pleural effusion, and a focal contrast enhancement at T9 level. Due to these findings, thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was performed. During follow up, T9 focal enhancement continues to grow and an additional one developed. Selective angiography was performed demonstrating a connection to the costal artery and the aortic lumen, confirming ICA. Successful embolization with micro coils was performed. During follow up, additional 2 ICAs developed and treated with embolization. CTA three months later showed a complete resolution of the IH and obliteration of all treated ICAs. Infectious, inflammatory and connective tissue disease investigations were undertaken without a clear etiology. Conclusions: This is a case of IH and ICAs, in the absence of a clear etiology which were successfully treated by endovascular procedures TEVAR and coil embolization. It is not clear whether the hematoma was the source of the ICA or the other way round. Lack of ICAs in the initial CTA might be due to the pressure exerted by the hematoma or that they were too small to be detected but continued to grow on follow up. Rupture of these micro-aneurysms is a possible mechanism of intramural aortic hematoma.

Massive hemorrhage from the posterior intercostal artery following lower partial sternotomy

Background Median sternotomy remains the most common approach in cardiovascular surgery. Recently, minimally invasive procedures, such as minimally invasive cardiac surgery, robot surgery, and catheter therapy have been developed in cardiovascular surgery. However, all these surgeries cannot be performed by minimally invasive approaches. Several complications associated with median sternotomy have been reported, although post-sternotomy hemorrhage from the posterior intercostal artery is extremely rare. Case presentation We present a case of posterior intercostal artery bleeding following lower partial sternotomy. A 79-year-old man underwent aortic valve replacement using lower partial median inverted L-shaped sternotomy that cut into the right second intercostal space. A postoperative chest radiograph indicated a hematoma in the right upper chest wall and pleural effusion. Hence, we inserted a drainage tube immediately. Approximately 2 hours after the surgery, his blood pressure gradually decreased. Blood drainage was observed from the tube, and the amount of blood drainage was not large. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a huge hematoma and hemorrhage from the fourth right posterior intercostal artery. Immediately, we performed emergency surgery. The lower partial sternotomy was repeated. We detected the origin of the bleeding that was identified in the right fourth posterior intercostal artery, and the bleeding was stopped. The postoperative course was uneventful. Conclusions This case highlights the possibility of intraoperative bleeding from the intercostal artery, even in the absence of clearly rib fracture. In our case, we did not identify the cause of bleeding, although we suggest the inhomogeneous stress on the posterior ribs upon attaching the sternal retractor for lower partial sternotomy may have affected the posterior intercostal artery.

Isolated giant true intercostal artery aneurysm with arteriovenous fistula: A case report

Objectives Intercostal artery aneurysm (IAA) is a very rare condition. Interestingly, only one study reported a case of intercostal aneurysm caused by an arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Here, we report the case of a patient with non-ruptured isolated giant true IAA caused by an AVF (size, 28 × 41 mm). Methods Treatment options for IAA include open surgery and endovascular treatment (EVT). We chose EVT, as it is minimally invasive. The right 11th intercostal artery and aneurysm diverged from the aorta. Two outflow arteries, one inflow artery, and an AVF from the aneurysm were confirmed, and coil embolization was performed. The artery of Adamkiewicz did not communicate with the right 11th intercostal artery. We performed angiography and confirmed occlusion of IAA with endoleak. Results There were no clinical findings indicative of spinal cord infarction after treatment. The patient did not develop complications and was discharged the day after treatment. Endoleak was not observed on computed tomography angiography findings at 1 month after treatment. Conclusions In our patient, an AVF might have caused IAA. Endovascular treatment for non-ruptured isolated giant IAA is a safe and minimally-invasive treatment. We found that performing EVT is beneficial when the size of the IAA exceeds 30 mm.

High false-negative rate of the anterior spinal artery by intercostobronchial trunk arteriography alone compared to CT during arteriography

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the frequencies of the anterior spinal arteries identified by CT during arteriography (CTA) and arteriography alone. Methods: This retrospective study included 137 vessels in 83 patients who performed both bronchial arteriography and CTA and categorized them into three groups based on the catheter tip locations: intercostobronchial trunk (ICBT), bronchial artery (BA), and intercostal artery (ICA). The frequencies of anterior spinal artery identified by CTA and arteriography alone were compared for each group. Results: ICBT, BA, and ICA groups were evaluated by CTA in 46, 79, and 12 vessels, respectively. By CTA evaluation, anterior spinal artery was identified in seven vessels (15.2%) in ICBT group, 0 in BA group, and 2 (16.7%) in ICA group. The frequencies of anterior spinal artery were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in ICBT and ICA groups than in BA group. By arteriography alone evaluation, a faint anterior spinal artery was identified in two vessels (4.3%) in ICBT group, 0 in BA group, and 1 (8.3%) in ICA group. Conclusions: Anterior spinal artery branched only from the ICBT or ICA and not from the BA in both arteriography and CTA assessments. There was high false-negative rate (71%) of the anterior spinal artery by ICBT arteriography alone assessment compared to CTA assessment. This result explains one of the reasons that spinal ischemia occurs in arteriography-negative spinal artery cases. Advances in knowledge: False-negative rate of anterior spinal artery was 71% (5/7) by intercostobronchial trunk arteriography alone assessment.

Massive hemothorax caused by intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm:a case report

Background Intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm is rare and at the risk of rupture. The aetiology is always reported to be iatrogenic and traumatic injury. Embolisation is the most common therapeutic method. Here, we report a case of spontaneous intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm and cured by combining covered stent grafting and surgical management. Case presentation A 60-year-old man complained of acute right back pain for 5 h. Computed tomography showed right massive hemothorax and a giant mass with distinct feeding vessel originated from the thoracic aorta within the right hemithorax. Thoracocentesis was performed, and then a covered stent was positioned across the origin of the feeding vessel. The patient was diagnosed with intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm. Finally, we successfully resected the pseudoaneurysm and ligated the proximal part of the artery. Histologic examination have proved the diagnosis. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 10. There is no recurrence reported during follow-up. Conclusions Spontaneous intercostal artery pseudoaneurysm is extremly rare. Delayed hemothorax due to rupture of the pseudoaneurysm may occur years after the formation. Early diagnosis is important and a combined treatment of endovascular intervention and surgical management is feasible, especially for the case of ruptured large tumour-like mass presentation of the pseudoaneurysm.