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Yanagawa et al. Vessel Plus 2018;2:1 Vessel Plus
DOI: 10.20517/2574-1209.2017.37

Review Open Access

Traumatic pulmonary artery injury: a review of the
recent literature

Youichi Yanagawa, Kouhei Ishikawa, Hiroki Nagasawa, Ikuto Takeuchi, Kei Jitsuiki, Hiromichi Ohsaka,
Kazuhiko Omori

Department of Acute Critical Care Medicine, Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Izunokuni 410-2295, Shizuoka, Japan.

Correspondence to: Dr. Youichi Yanagawa, Department of Acute Critical Care Medicine, Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University,
1129 Nagaoka, Izunokuni 410-2295, Shizuoka, Japan. E-mail: yyanaga@juntendo.ac.jp
How to cite this article: Yanagawa Y, Ishikawa K, Nagasawa H, Takeuchi I, Jitsuiki K, Ohsaka H, Omori K. Traumatic pulmonary
artery injury: a review of the recent literature. Vessel Plus 2018;2:1. http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2574-1209.2017.37
Received: 12 Dec 2017 First Decision: 8 Jan 2018 Revised: 19 Jan 2018 Accepted: 22 Jan 2018 Published: 26 Jan 2018

Science Editor: Mario F. L. Gaudino Copy Editor: Jun-Yao Li Production Editor: Cai-Hong Wang

Abstract
Pulmonary artery injury (PAI) is rare, lethal clinical entity. Traumatic PAI is anatomically classified into transection/
rupture/laceration, pseudoaneurysm, dissection and fistula. In addition, traumatic PAI is clinically classified into two
major categories: iatrogenic and non-iatrogenic, depending on the mechanism of the trauma. The frequency, clinical
symptoms and treatment differ between the two clinical categories. If PAI can be managed appropriately and promptly in
patients without cardiac arrest, the patient may be saved, as PAI can be easily controlled with appropriate procedures due
to the low pressure in the PA circulation.

Keywords: Pulmonary artery, trauma, iatrogenic

INTRODUCTION
Pulmonary artery injury (PAI) is a rare, lethal clinical entity. Most vital emergencies involve proximal
PAI. However, if PAI can be managed appropriately and promptly in patients without cardiac arrest,
the patient may be saved, as PAI can be easily controlled with appropriate procedures due to the low
[1]
pressure in the PA circulation, provided the injury site is small . In this review article, traumatic PA is
anatomically classified into four categories and clinically classified into two major categories: iatrogenic
and non-iatrogenic, depending on the mechanism of the trauma. The frequency, clinical symptoms and
treatment differ between the two clinical categories. The references are limited to reports in the English
literature published since 1990.

© The Author(s) 2018. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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