Endovascular embolization through pulmonary artery access for refractory massive hemoptysis / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To determine the effectiveness of endovascular embolization through pulmonary artery access in patients with refractory massive hemoptysis in whom systemic artery (SA)embolization is ineffective or contraindicated. Methods A total of 102 patients were treated with SA embolization for hemoptysis. Of the 102 patients, 6 patients had severe persistent hemoptysis despite complete SA embolization and 1 patient had severe hemoptysis following complete bronchial artery embolization and other SA embolization was contraindicated. The underlying diseases were chronic cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 3), chronic cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis complicated with aspergilloma (n=1), tuberculous bronchiectasis (n=1), severe necrotizing pneumonia (n=1) and bronchiectasis complicated with pneumatocele (n=1). The findings of SA angiography, main pulmonary angiography and selective pulmonary angiography were analyzed. Endovascular embolization was performed in patients with the detectable pathology in PA and the clinical results were observed. Results The findings of SA angiography showed bronchopulmonary shunting in all cases, and pseudoaneurysm of PA in 2 cases and hypertrophy of peripheral PA in 2 cases. The main PA angiography demonstrated pseudoaneurysm of PA in 1 case and hypoperfusion of the diseased PA in other case. The selective PA angiography demonstrated pseudoaneurysm of PA in 4 cases (1 case with extravasation of constrast medium) and hypertrophy ofperipheral PA in 2 cases. Coil embolizations of the pathologic PA were successfully performed and bleeding ceased in all patients. During follow-up, 1 patient had episodic bloody sputum after embolization, and 2 died day 6 and 15 of severe infection and respiratory failure and the remaining patients were all stable.Conclusions In patients with refractory massive hemoptysis after systemic embolization, the possibility of PA pathology, especially pseudoaneurysm of PA should be considered. Selective pulmonary angiography is necessary to demonstrate the pathology in PA. Endovascular management of the pathologic PA appears to be a safe and effective treatment.