Secondary systemic artery to pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein fistulas following the video-assisted thoracic surgery for pneumothorax: a case report

Background The systemic artery to pulmonary vessel fistula (SAPVF) is a vascular anomaly characterized by penetration of nonbronchial systemic chest wall arteries into the lung parenchyma. To our knowledge, about 150 cases of SAPVF have been reported to date. Fifteen percent of SAPVF are congenital and occur in the presence of cardiopathy or pulmonary artery hypoplasia. Secondary SAPVF are caused by pleural adhesions that occur subsequent to inflammatory changes associated with conditions such as pleuritis, empyema, trauma, and surgery. Though several cases of secondary SAPVF as a post coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) complication have been reported, secondary SAPVF especially following video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) are relatively rare.