Spontaneous hemopneumothorax with a ruptured aneurysm in the second intercostal artery: report of a case

Ruptured intercostal aneurysm is a rare cause of spontaneous hemopneumothorax (SHP). A 29-year-old woman presented to our hospital with left neck pain and, in the emergency room, suddenly lost consciousness. Chest radiography showed massive pleural effusion and the moderate collapse of the left lung. A chest drain was placed and 800 mL of bloody pleural effusion was collected. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a ruptured aneurysm near the left pulmonary apex. Emergency angiography further revealed the ruptured aneurysm in the second intercostal artery. Transcatheter angiographic embolization (TAE) was performed, which resulted in hemostasis. On hospitalization day 2, the hematoma was removed via video-assisted thoracic surgery. A bulla was also identified in the lower lobe and removed. She was discharged from the hospital on a postoperative day 6 without complications. Thus, TAE might be effective to control bleeding during the initial treatment of SHP due to a ruptured aneurysm.