Endovascular treatment of bronchial aneurysms

Pulmonary ligament rupture due to a bronchial artery aneurysm-induced hematoma: a case report

BACKGROUND

Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare vascular anomaly with the potential for serious complications, such as rupture leading to hemothorax or hemoptysis. Although bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is recognized as an effective intervention for ruptured BAA, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of associated hemothorax.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 73-year-old woman presented with a mediastinal hematoma from a ruptured BAA, causing bilateral hemothorax. Emergency angiography revealed a saccular BAA that was successfully embolized using a microcatheter and coil. Subsequent computed tomography revealed an expanding hemothorax managed by VATS, with 1400 mL of blood drained. During VATS, thoracoscopy revealed pulmonary ligament rupture, which was attributed to increased intramediastinal pressure. The patient was discharged eight days postoperatively with no complications. This case highlights the use of BAE and VATS in the management of mediastinal BAA rupture and massive hemothorax.

CONCLUSIONS

BAE proved to be an effective strategy for the management of ruptured mediastinal BAAs. VATS is a valuable standby procedure for hematoma removal, but the indication should be carefully determined because of the risk of BAA re-rupture.

Case Report: Combined transcatheter arterial embolization and aortic stent-graft have better efficacy for bronchial artery aneurysms

Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare and fatal condition that requires immediate treatment. However, conventional surgical and transcatheter arterial embolization treatments are less effective. In the present case, a 76-year-old hypertensive woman was admitted with dizziness and diagnosed with an unruptured bronchial artery aneurysm, which was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization and aortic stent-graft. The patient's clinical status was stable during the 4-year follow-up. Simultaneously, we reviewed 79 research papers, analyzing past BAA cases for their etiology, symptoms, and treatment outcomes. We found that catheter arterial embolization and aortic stent-graft implantation, especially for BAA of short-necked and arterial tortuosity, demonstrate superior efficacy compared to other methods. Therefore, we consider this approach to be the preferred choice in clinical BAA treatment.

A novel surgical approach for multiple bronchial artery aneurysms

Bronchial artery aneurysms (BAAs) are rare and are known to be associated with bronchiectasis. The presentation varies from incidental radiological finding to life-threatening hemoptysis. A diagnosis of BAA is an indication for intervention irrespective of its presentation. Despite interventional procedures being at the forefront of management, surgical procedures are being reserved for specific situations. Recently, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is an alternate for management of BAA. We, herein, present a case of multiple BAA with cystic bronchiectasis managed surgically with left lower lobectomy and localized descending thoracic aorta (DTA) replacement with plication of feeding arteries through left posterolateral thoracotomy approach.

Bronchial Artery Embolization

Massive hemoptysis is a highly morbid medical condition with up to 75% mortality with conservative treatment. Bronchial artery embolization has emerged as the common treatment for both acute massive hemoptysis and chronic hemoptysis. This article will review the clinical presentation, bronchial artery anatomy, embolization procedure, complications, and expected outcomes.

Bronchial artery aneurysm presenting with epigastric pain that improves with vomiting

A 64-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a chief complaint of epigastric pain that improved with vomiting. He was initially treated for gastrointestinal disease, but computed tomography (CT) showed a mediastinal haematoma and contrast-enhanced CT and bronchial arteriography showed a bronchial aneurysm. Bronchial artery aneurysm is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to haemorrhagic shock if it ruptures. Patients with bronchial aneurysms may present with symptoms similar to that of gastrointestinal diseases owing to increased pressure in the mediastinum caused by mediastinal haematoma.

Bronchial artery aneurysm: Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and long-term prognosis following bronchial artery embolization

PURPOSE

To investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and long-term prognosis of bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) following bronchial artery embolization (BAE).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The medical records of consecutive patients who underwent bronchial artery angiography between August 2013 to December 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who were diagnosed with BAA during this period were enrolled in this study. The prevalence, patients' characteristics, symptoms, comorbidities, angiographic findings, and long-term prognosis following BAE were investigated.

RESULTS

BAA was observed in 20 out of 508 patients who underwent bronchial artery angiography (3.9%). The patients' median age was 69 years (range 44-91). The main causes of BAA were cryptogenic, bronchiectasis/cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary aspergillosis. The median diameter of the ruptured BAAs was significantly smaller than that of the unruptured BAAs [5.4 mm (4.8-7.3 mm) versus 9.0 mm (7.2-13.9 mm), p = 0.009]. All patients were successfully treated with BAE without major adverse events. The median follow-up period after BAE was 970 (quartiles: 561-1796) days. The BAA-related survival rate was 100% at 2 and 3 years after BAE, and the overall survival rate after BAE was 89.2% (95% CI: 89.0-89.3) at 2 years and 74.3% (95% CI, 74.0-74.5) at 3 years. BAA related adverse events and mortality did not occur during the follow up period.

CONCLUSION

BAA was observed in 3.9 % (20/508) of patients who underwent bronchial artery angiography. All patients with BAA were successfully treated by BAE. BAA rupture and consequent mortality did not occur during follow up period.

Mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm with short inflow segment successfully treated with a patent ductus arteriosus occluder device

Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare vascular abnormality that may result in life-threatening bleeding if it is left untreated. We present the case of a 35-year-old man with a mediastinal BAA characterized by a short inflow artery segment and tortuous single outflow vessel. The patient's BAA was treated with a novel approach involving placement of a patent ductus arteriosus closure device in the short inflow segment as well as coil embolization of the outflow vessel, successfully excluding the BAA. Two-week follow-up revealed no flow in the embolized artery on computed tomography angiography. This case demonstrates the first successful use of a patent ductus arteriosus occluder device in the treatment of a mediastinal BAA with short inflow segment.

Tuberculous esophagomediastinal fistula with concomitant mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm-acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding: A case report

BACKGROUND

Esophagomediastinal fistula is a very rare complication of tuberculosis in otherwise healthy adults, and mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm is even rarer. In this case report, we describe a rare case of tuberculosis complication that presented with acute upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. It also highlights the benefits of chest computed tomography (CT) as an excellent adjunct diagnostic tool to endoscopy and bronchoscopy and the role of trans-arterial embolization as a minimal invasive therapy alternative to surgery.

CASE SUMMARY

A 19-year-old medically free male patient presented with acute multiple episodes of hematemesis for 1 d. Upper GI endoscopy, bronchoscopy, and chest CT with IV contrast confirmed esophagomediastinal fistula with mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm. After resuscitating patient with IV fluid and blood product transfusion, trans catheter embolization was performed for mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm.

CONCLUSION

We successfully treated a patient with acute upper GI bleeding due to tuberculous esophagomediastinal fistula and mediastinal bronchial artery aneurysm using transcatheter coil embolization.

Endovascular Treatment of Multiple Bronchial Artery Aneurysms With Prominent Fistula to Pulmonary Artery in a Patient With Interstitial Lung Disease: A Case Report and Literature Review

Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare entity. Ruptured BAA can cause life-threatening hemorrhage. It is recommended that treatment should be initiated immediately after diagnosis. We present the case of a 56-year-old female with multiple BAAs and interstitial lung disease. Aortic computed tomography angiography demonstrated that the largest aneurysm at the right hilum was fed by right subclavian artery and right bronchial artery. A fistula between the pulmonary trunk and the aneurysm was also revealed. The patient underwent transcatheter embolization. Coils were placed in the feeding vessels instead of the aneurysms to avoid nontarget embolization of the pulmonary arteries through the fistula. The procedure achieved reduction in aneurysmal blood flow. The patient's cough resolved at 6-month follow-up.