35 Case 1-2010: A 68-year-old male with breathlessness

Lower respiratory tract infection and rapid expansion of an abdominal aortic aneurysm: a case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports,2010, 4(1). doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-4-333

Naylor, S., Gamie, Z., Vohra, R., Puppala, S., Kent, P., & Scott, D.

Case Summary 1

A 68-year-old Caucasian male was admitted with a contaminated lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), increasing back pain and epigastric discomfort. This patient’s medical history includes consistent cigarette smoking for 20 years, a coronary artery bypass graft for ischemic heart disease, and an existing aortic aneurysm. Clinical examinations showed tender epigastrium and left bronchopneumonia. A computed tomography (CT) aortogram, CT thorax, and coronal CT angiogram were used to further investigate this patient’s condition and diagnosis. 

 


Learning Objectives

  • Investigating the clinical history of the patient and selecting appropriate examinations to identify this respiratory infection.
  • Correlating the patient’s symptoms and the case study clinical examinations to narrow down the possible diagnosis.
  • Familiarizing and defining new medical terminology associated with this patient’s condition.
  • Extrapolating key lifestyle factors that have contributed to the respiratory infection and preventative measures that can be put in place to ensure the future health of the patient.

Clinical History 1

  • Age:  68 years old
  • Sex:  Male
  • Ethnicity:  Caucasian

Medical History 1

  • Has been previously diagnosed with infra-renal AAA  which had been monitored for six-months.
    • Maximum diameter was 4.9 cm, grown to 5.2 cm over one year.
    • Most recent ultrasound scan was conducted two months before admission.
      • Maximal diameter of the AAA  was 5.4 cm.
  • 20 years of cigarette smoking.
  • Ischemic heart disease thus underwent coronary artery bypass graft in 1987.

Symptoms 1

  • Shortness of breath
  • Presumed community acquired LRTI (lower respiratory tract infection)
  • Increasing back pain
  • Epigastric discomfort
  • 48-hours after admission, patient experienced pre-syncope with brief periods of hypertension

 

Examinations (Clinical Assays/Tests/Imaging) 1

Physical Examination 1

  • Hemodynamically stable, however pyrexial and hypoxic. 

Clinical Examinations 1

  • Signs of tender epigastrium. 

Blood Investigations 1

  • Leukocytosis with neutrophilia: 15.03 x 109/L (Normal range: 2.5-7.5 x 109/L)4 
  • Confirmed non-leaking 5.6 cm AAA (abdominal aortic aneurysm) (figure 1, yellow arrow).
  • Extensive lower lobe consolidation and collapse with hilar lymphadenopathy was observed (figure 2, yellow arrow).
CT aortogram revealing the 5.6 cm (yellow line) anteroposterior diameter AAA.
Figure 1: CT aortogram revealing the 5.6 cm (yellow line) anteroposterior diameter AAA.1
CT thorax shows the lower lobe consolidation and collapse in the left lung (yellow arrow) with extensive hilar lymphadenopathy.
Figure 2: CT thorax shows the lower lobe consolidation and collapse in the left lung (yellow arrow) with extensive hilar lymphadenopathy.1
  • Due to symptoms of hypotension 48-hours after admission, a repeat CT aortogram was conducted revealing the increased size of the AAA to 7.0 cm (figure 3, yellow line). This would also reveal retroperitoneal fat stranding (figure 4, yellow line).
  • No significant angulation (changes in angle formation) was shown in the neck of the aneurysm. The juxta-renal diameter (aneurysms adjacent to renal artery origins) had been 22.1 mm before increasing to 25.4 mm in its infra-renal (below the renal artery origins) segment (figure 4).
    • These repeat CT scans revealed significant stenosis (narrowing) of the left common iliac artery.
CT aortogram shows a rapid increased 7.0 cm (yellow line) size of the AAA in the anteroposterior diameter. This also shows sign of impending rupture and beak in left lateral aortic thrombus.
Figure 3: CT aortogram shows a rapid increased 7.0 cm (yellow line) size of the AAA in the anteroposterior diameter. This also shows sign of impending rupture and beak in left lateral aortic thrombus.1
Coronal CT angiogram image shows 7.0 cm aneurysm. The diameter of the neck of aneurysm at the renal arteries were 22.1 mm and the renal arteries below were 25.4 mm.
Figure 4: Coronal CT angiogram image shows 7.0 cm aneurysm. The diameter of the neck of aneurysm at the renal arteries were 22.1 mm and the renal arteries below were 25.4 mm.1

 

Question & Answers Leading to Diagnosis: 

Question 1: Considering the patient’s previous medical history and current symptoms, what diagnosis could we expect? 

Question 2: From the patient’s respiratory symptoms, lab investigations and CT scans, what is the confirmatory diagnosis?

Question 3: The CT scans have shown AAA expansion and lower lobe consolidation, what biomarkers could be used to support this diagnosis? How can both diagnoses be correlated?

** For answers please check the next chapter.

 

Medical terminology/Abbreviations: 

  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) – The enlargement of the lower area of the major vessel which supplies blood to the body.10 
  • Chemokines – A family of chemoattractant cytokines which are secreted by cells in response to the body’s immune system.11
  • Computed tomography (CT) aortogram – A technique using CT scanning and an injection of contrast material into the blood vessels to examine and diagnose cardiovascular diseases. 12
  • Computed tomography (CT) thorax – An imaging test to examine organs and chest using X-ray and computer technology. 13
  • Coronal computed tomography (CT) angiogram – A technique using CT scanning and an injection of contrast material into the blood vessels to evaluate structure and patency of arteries suppling lower limbs and abdomen with blood. 14
  • Coronary artery bypass graft – Surgery redirecting blood around a blocked artery of the heart. 15
  • Cytokines – Group of glycoproteins, peptides and proteins secreted by cells in response to the immune system, they regulate and mediate immunity. 16
  • Epigastric – Upper central region of the abdomen. 17
  • Growth factor – Substance required for growth stimulation in living cells. 18
  • Hypoxic – Condition where the areas of the body or the body does not have an adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level. 19
  • Ischemic heart disease (or coronary heart/artery disease) – Disease with the heart is getting an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen due to narrowing of arteries. 20
  • Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) or pneumonia – Infection that involves the lungs abscess and acute bronchitis. 21
  • Pro-inflammatory biomarkers – Regulatory proteins that can be used to detect inflammation. 22
  • Sepsis – Condition where the body’s response to an existing infection begins to damage it’s own tissues, this can be a potentially life-threatening. 23
  • Stenosis – Narrowing of the diameter of bodily passages. 24

References

  1. Naylor, S., Gamie, Z., Vohra, R., Puppala, S., Kent, P., & Scott, D. (2010). Lower respiratory tract infection and rapid expansion of an abdominal aortic aneurysm: a case report. Journal Of Medical Case Reports, 4(1). doi: 10.1186/1752-1947-4-333
  2. Thoracic aortic aneurysm – Symptoms and causes. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/thoracic-aortic-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20350188
  3. 3.0 Introduction – Tobacco in Australia. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-3-health-effects/3-0-background
  4. Leukocyte Count (WBC): Reference Range, Interpretation, Collection and Panels. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2054452-overview
  5. Middleton, R. K., Lloyd, G. M., Bown, M. J., Cooper, N. J., London, N. J., & Sayers, R. D. (2007). The pro-inflammatory and chemotactic cytokine microenvironment of the abdominal aortic aneurysm wall: a protein array study. Journal of vascular surgery, 45(3), 574–580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2006.11.020  
  6. Wallinder, J., Bergqvist, D., & Henriksson, A. E. (2009). Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine balance in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and the impact of aneurysm size. Vascular and endovascular surgery, 43(3), 258–261. https://doi.org/10.1177/1538574408324617
  7. Gallagher, P. M., Lowe, G., Fitzgerald, T., Bella, A., Greene, C. M., McElvaney, N. G., & O’Neill, S. J. (2003). Association of IL-10 polymorphism with severity of illness in community acquired pneumonia. Thorax, 58(2), 154–156. https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax.58.2.154
  8. Monaco, M., Di Tommaso, L., Oliviero, U., Iannelli, G., & Stassano, P. (2008). A rapidly expanding descending thoracic aortic aneurysm: an unusual complication. Journal of cardiac surgery, 23(3), 260–261. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8191.2007.00525.x
  9. Mory, M., Hansmann, J., Allenberg, J. R., & Böckler, D. (2007). Images in vascular medicine. Rapid expansion of an inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm. Vascular medicine (London, England), 12(4), 381–382. https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863X07083276
  10. Abdominal aortic aneurysm – Symptoms and causes. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm/symptoms-causes/syc-20350688
  11. Chemokines: Introduction | British Society for Immunology. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.immunology.org/public-information/bitesized-immunology/receptors-and-molecules/chemokines-introduction
  12. (ACR), R. (2021). CT Angiography (CTA). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/angioct
  13. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Chest. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/ct-scan-of-the-chest
  14. SWSLHD – Medical Imaging – Abdominal Aortagram. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/medicalImaging/serv_CT_Aortagram_Abdominal.html
  15. Coronary bypass surgery – Mayo Clinic. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/coronary-bypass-surgery/about/pac-20384589
  16. What are Cytokines. (2021). Retrieved 9 April 2021, from https://www.sinobiological.com/resource/cytokines/what-are-cytokines#:~:text=Cytokines%20are%20a%20large%20group,regulate%20immunity%2C%20inflammation%20and%20hematopoiesis.
  17. (2021). Retrieved 27 April 2021, from https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/digestive-health/epigastric-pain
  18. Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries | Find definitions, translations, and grammar explanations at Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries. (2021). Retrieved 27 April 2021, from https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/
  19. Samuel J., Franklin C. (2008) Hypoxemia and Hypoxia. In: Myers J.A., Millikan K.W., Saclarides T.J. (eds) Common Surgical Diseases. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-75246-4_97
  20. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Social Security Cardiovascular Disability Criteria. Cardiovascular Disability: Updating the Social Security Listings. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2010. 7, Ischemic Heart Disease. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209964/
  21. Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. (2014). Therapeutic guidelines. West Melbourne, Victoria.
  22. van den Berg, R., Jongbloed, E., de Schepper, E., Bierma-Zeinstra, S., Koes, B., & Luijsterburg, P. (2018). The association between pro-inflammatory biomarkers and nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review. The Spine Journal, 18(11), 2140-2151. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2018.06.349
  23. Sepsis – Symptoms and causes. (2021). Retrieved 27 April 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sepsis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351214#:~:text=Sepsis%20is%20a%20potentially%20life,may%20progress%20to%20septic%20shock.
  24. Definition of STENOSIS. (2021). Retrieved 27 April 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stenosis

Further Reading

 

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Case 1-2010: A 68-year-old male with breathlessness Copyright © 2023 by Naylor, S., Gamie, Z., Vohra, R., Puppala, S., Kent, P., & Scott, D. is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-4-333

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