Percutaneous transthoracic embolisation for massive haemoptysis secondary to peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms

Infectious Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm Secondary to a Lung Abscess Treated With Pulmonary Artery Coil Embolization: A Case Report

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAPs) are uncommon, yet they frequently result in hemoptysis and are associated with a poor prognosis. We report a case of an 87-year-old male patient. Initially, he was admitted to a previous hospital, and diagnosed with a lung abscess in the left lower lobe. On the second hospital day, he developed hemoptysis. A contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) identified an infectious pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm. On the ninth hospital day, pulmonary artery coil embolization was successfully performed, significantly improving the patient's condition.

Bronchial embolisation for infected pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms causing haemoptysis

AIM

To report the authors' experience of bronchial artery embolisation (BAE) in a series of patients to control haemoptysis associated with infected pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PAPs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients who underwent BAE based on computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings indicative of haemoptysis between February 2019 and September 2022 at Xiangyang Central Hospital were identified. Charts of patients with haemoptysis and infectious PAPs were reviewed retrospectively. Data were collected data on age, sex, underlying pathology, source pulmonary artery of the PAP, association with cavitary lesions or consolidation, systemic angiography findings, technical and clinical success, and follow-up.

RESULTS

Seventeen PAPs were treated in 16 patients, with a mean age of 60.3 years (range: 37-82 years). The most common underlying cause was tuberculosis (15/16, 93.8%). Imaging by CTA did not identify the source pulmonary artery for 15 (88.2%) PAPs; all were associated with cavitary lesions or consolidation. All PAPs were visualised on systemic angiography. The technical and clinical success rates were both 87.5%. Two patients who experienced a recurrence of haemoptysis during follow-up underwent repeat CTA, which confirmed the elimination of the previous PAP.

CONCLUSION

BAE may be a valuable technique to control haemoptysis associated with infectious PAPs that are visualised on systemic angiography. A possible contributing factor is PAPs arising from very small pulmonary arteries.

Which Is the Best Way to Treat Massive Hemoptysis? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

INTRODUCTION

Hemoptysis is one of the most common symptoms of respiratory system diseases. Common causes include bronchiectasis, tumors, tuberculosis, aspergilloma, and cystic fibrosis. The severity of hemoptysis varies from mild to moderate to massive hemoptysis and can easily lead to hemodynamic instability and death from suffocation or shock. Nevertheless, the most threatening hemoptysis that is presented to the emergency department and requires hospitalization is the massive one. In these cases, today, the most common way to manage hemoptysis is bronchial artery embolization (BAE).

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus from January 2017 (with the aim of selecting the newest possible reports in the literature) until May 2023 for studies reporting massive hemoptysis. All studies that included technical and clinical success rates of hemoptysis management, as well as rebleeding and mortality rates, were included. A proportional meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Of the 30 studies included in this systematic review, 26 used bronchial artery embolization as a means of treating hemoptysis, with very high levels of both technical and clinical success (greater than 73.7% and 84.2%, respectively). However, in cases where it was not possible to use bronchial artery embolization, alternative methods were used, such as dual-vessel intervention (80% technical success rate and 66.7% clinical success rate), customized endobronchial silicone blockers (92.3% technical success rate and 92.3% clinical success rate), antifibrinolytic agents (50% clinical success rate), and percutaneous transthoracic embolization (93.1% technical success rate and 88.9% clinical success rate), which all had high success rates apart from antifibrinolytic agents. Of the 2467 patients included in these studies, 341 experienced rebleeding during the follow-up period, while 354 other complications occurred, including chest discomfort, fever, dysphagia, and paresis. A total of 89 patients died after an episode of massive hemoptysis or during the follow-up period. The results of the meta-analysis showed a pooled technical success of bronchial artery embolization equal to 97.22% and a pooled clinical success equal to 92.46%. The pooled recurrence was calculated to be 21.46%, while the mortality was 3.5%. These results confirm the ability of bronchial artery embolization in the treatment of massive hemoptysis but also emphasize the high rate of recurrence following the intervention, as well as the risk of death.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, massive hemoptysis can be treated with great clinical and technical success using bronchial artery embolization, reducing mortality. Mortality has now been reduced to a small percentage of cases.

Endovascular treatment for massive haemoptysis due to pulmonary pseudoaneurysm: report of 23 cases

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endovascular treatment for massive haemoptysis caused by pulmonary pseudoaneurysm (PAP).

METHODS

The clinical data, imaging data, and endovascular treatment protocol of 23 patients with massive haemoptysis caused by continuous PAP were retrospectively analysed. The success, complications, postoperative recurrence rate, and influence of the treatment on pulmonary artery pressure were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Nineteen patients with a bronchial artery-pulmonary artery (BA-PA) and/or nonbronchial systemic artery-pulmonary artery (NBSA-PA) fistula underwent bronchial artery embolization (BAE) and/or nonbronchial systemic artery embolization (NBSAE) + pulmonary artery embolization (PAE). The pulmonary artery (PA) pressures before and after embolization were 52.11 ± 2.12 (35-69 cmH2O) and 33.58 ± 1.63 (22-44 cmH2O), respectively (P = 0.001). Four patients did not have a BA-PA and/or NBSA-PA fistula. Embolization was performed in two patients with a distal PAP of the pulmonalis lobar arteria. Bare stent-assisted microcoils embolization was performed in the other two patients with a PAP of the main pulmonary lobar arteries. The PA pressures of the four patients before and after treatment were 24.50 ± 1.32 (22-28 cmH2O) and 24.75 ± 1.70 (22-29 cmH2O), respectively (P = 0.850). The technique had a 100% success rate with no serious complications and a postoperative recurrence rate of 30%.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular treatment is safe and effective for massive haemoptysis caused by PAP. BAE and/or NBSAE can effectively reduce pulmonary hypertension in patients with a BA-PA and/or NBSA-PA fistula.

Issues in Medicine

Rasmussen aneurysms are abnormalities of the pulmonary arterial system caused by tuberculosis (TB). They are associated with a highmortality rate when they cause life-threatening haemoptysis. High TB-prevalence regions have a large burden of TB-related haemoptysisbut often limited resources. This series of 25 patients who presented with life-threatening haemoptysis from current and/or previous TBwere found to have abnormal pulmonary arteries on computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA), which were judged to belikely contributors to their bleeding, either in isolation or with concomitant abnormal bronchial or systemic vasculature. These patientsunderwent transcatheter placement of Amplatzer vascular plugs in the feeder pulmonary artery. Bronchial and systemic lesions wereaddressed separately as needed. Immediate technical success was achieved in all patients, but four of them experienced intraoperativehaemoptysis related to dislodgement of the occluding platelet plug by the high-pressure automatic injector and wire. At 48 hours after theprocedure, 18 (72%) remained haemoptysis-free. Six of these experienced recurrence within 1 year of their procedure. Pulmonary arteryplacement of an Amplatzer vascular plug is a feasible option for treating bleeding Rasmussen aneurysms, but should be part of a combinedapproach to addressing suspected culprit vascular lesions in all intrathoracic vascular systems.

Treatment of a Post-biopsy Pulmonary Artery Pseudoaneurysm

Peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysms (PPAP) following a lung biopsy are exceedingly rare but can lead to severe haemoptysis. Cases requiring treatment are usually managed using an endovascular approach. Nevertheless, successful percutaneous treatment has been described. Several embolic agents can be used to accomplish percutaneous embolization. We aim to report a successful percutaneous treatment of a post-biopsy PPAP using thrombin. Our patient developed a PPAP, with consequent large alveolar haemorrhage and haemoptysis, after a transthoracic lung biopsy. Because the patient had a mechanical mitral valve, she needed to be anticoagulated, impairing the spontaneous resolution of the pseudoaneurysm. Therefore, the PPAP had to be treated to safely anticoagulate the patient. A percutaneous approach was chosen given the very peripheric location of the PPAP. Treating PPAP with an endovascular approach can be challenging. With this report, we demonstrate that the percutaneous approach is a safe and efficient alternative method. We choose thrombin as an embolic agent given its safety profile and efficacy under anticoagulation. The good results of our intervention reinforce the applicability and efficacy of this kind of treatment approach to PPAP.

Safety and efficacy of emergency transarterial embolization for mesenteric bleeding

Background

Patients with spontaneous or traumatic active mesenteric bleeding cannot be treated endoscopically. Transarterial embolization can serve as a potential alternative to emergency surgery. Literature on transarterial embolization for mesenteric bleeding remains very scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transarterial embolization for mesenteric bleeding. We reviewed all consecutive patients admitted for mesenteric bleeding to the interventional radiology department, in a tertiary center, between January 2010 and March 2021. Mesenteric bleeding was defined as mesenteric hematoma and contrast extravasation and/or pseudoaneurysm visible on pre-operative CT scan. We evaluated technical success, clinical success, and complications.

Results

Among the 17 patients admitted to the interventional department for mesenteric bleeding, 15 presented with active mesenteric bleeding requiring transarterial embolization with five patients with hemodynamic instability. Mean age was 67 ± 14 years, including 12 (70.6%) males. Technical success was achieved in 14/15 (93.3%) patients. One patient with technical failure was treated by percutaneous embolization with NBCA-Lipiodol mixture. Three patients (20%) had early rebleeding: two were treated by successful repeat embolization and one by surgery. One patient (6.7%) had early death within 30 days and two patients (13.3%) had late death after 30 days. Mean length of hospitalization was 12.8 ± 7 days. There were no transarterial embolization-related ischemic complications.

Conclusion

Transarterial embolization is a safe and effective technique for treating mesenteric bleeding even in patients with hemodynamic instability. Transarterial embolization doesn’t close the door to surgery and could be proposed as first intention in case of mesenteric bleeding.

Rasmussen’s Aneurysm, Rare yet Acknowledged Cause of Massive Hemoptysis: Retrospective Review of 16 Cases

Objectives: Rasmussen’s aneurysm may cause life-threatening hemoptysis. We investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with hemoptysis and Rasmussen’s aneurysm.Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients who clinically presented with hemoptysis and were diagnosed with a Rasmussen’s aneurysm on spiral chest computed tomography (CT).Results: Our study included 16 patients (men:women, 12:4; mean age, 65.25 ± 13.0 years). Massive hemoptysis was observed in nine patients (56%) and blood-tinged sputum in four patients (25%). Ten patients (62.5%) had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, and three patients (18.7%) had underlying lung cancer. Chest CT revealed coexisting fungal balls in seven patients (43.7%). Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) was performed in 12 patients (75%). One patient died of uncontrolled massive hemoptysis.Conclusions: Patients with Rasmussen’s aneurysm showed hemoptysis during the course of the disease; however, bleeding can be controlled with conservative therapy and radiological interventions, such as BAE.

CT-guided percutaneous approach for the treatment of peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm: A case report

Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare but life threatening complication of pulmonary tuberculosis, considered as a diagnosis and therapeutic emergency. Transarterial embolization approach has become more widespread over the last few decades, and is now considered the first-line treatment over surgery. Percutaneous embolization under computed tomography (CT) or CT scan control has recently been reported by one centre as a first-line treatment for persistent peripheral Pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm under certain conditions. We report the case of a 23-year-old female patient admitted in emergency for moderate haemoptysis, in a context of relapsing of tuberculosis. CT scan angiogram showed a peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm of the lower left lobe, and persisted seven days later. After multidisciplinary meeting, a minimal invasive approach was decided. The patient was treated in first-line treatment by percutaneous transthoracic embolization, under CT-guidance, using N butyl-cyanoacrylate and Lipiodol mixture, without any complication. The percutaneous minimal invasive treatment seems to be a reliable approach to treat persistent peripheral pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm.

Interventional radiology management of extremity pseudoaneurysms: a pictorial essay

Pseudoaneurysms are vascular abnormalities caused by a damaging force on an arterial wall, resulting in a persistent extravasation of blood into the surrounding tissue, which can be the result of infection, inflammation, trauma or any iatrogenic procedure. The incidence of extremity artery pseudoaneurysms is rising because of increased number of endovascular procedures. As a number of complications are associated with these false aneurysms, it is important to know the treatment modalities available. Ultrasound is the most common method of diagnosing extremity pseudoaneurysm because of their superficial location. Computed tomographic angiography is the next investigation of choice as it has three-dimensional capability and can help evaluate the vascular bed. Digital subtraction angiography is rarely used for diagnosis alone, and is used only when a therapeutic procedure is planned. Treatment of these pseudoaneurysms has shifted from open surgical procedures to minimally invasive treatment in recent years. The different techniques for tackling these lesions include ultrasound-guided compression, percutaneous thrombin or glue embolisation and endovascular coil or stent graft placement. In this pictorial essay, we review the different treatment modalities so that an interventional radiologist is aware of all the treatments he can offer when confronted with these lesions.

Successful embolization of giant pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm using coils and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx)

Hemoptysis could be a life-threatening event, especially when the bleeding originates from the arterial pulmonary circulation. The main cause of this type of bleeding is pulmonary artery pseudoaneurysm (PAP), which can be managed by surgical, medical or minimally invasive techniques. This study reports the case of massive hemoptysis in a 75-year-old male patient, with a former history of lobectomy. The initial CT scan showed a giant PAP from a branch of the right middle lobar pulmonary artery, within the right lower lobectomy cavity. An endovascular approach was decided. Subsequently, the feeding artery of the PAP was embolized with detachable coils. The control CT scan showed a persistent opacification of the PAP. The embolization was then completed by injection of Onyx within coils packing, with a complete thrombose of the PAP on control CT scan. This report confirms the safety and efficacy profile of an endovascular approach to treat giant PAP, using a combination of coils and Onyx.