Endobronchial valves in the management of recurrent haemoptysis

Mapping of Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Africa

Africa has a high burden of tuberculosis, which is the most important risk factor for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). Our goal was to systematically evaluate the burden of CPA in Africa and map it by country. We conducted an extensive literature search for publications on CPA in Africa using the online databases. We reviewed a total of 41 studies published between 1976 and 2021, including a total of 1247 CPA cases from 14 African countries. Most of the cases came from Morocco (n = 764, 62.3%), followed by South Africa (n = 122, 9.9%) and Senegal (n = 99, 8.1%). Seventeen (41.5%) studies were retrospective, 12 (29.3%) were case reports, 5 case series (12.2%), 5 prospective cohorts, and 2 cross-sectional studies. The majority of the cases (67.1%, n = 645) were diagnosed in men, with a median age of 41 years (interquartile range: 36–45). Active/previously treated pulmonary tuberculosis (n = 764, 61.3%), human immunodeficiency virus infection (n = 29, 2.3%), diabetes mellitus (n = 19, 1.5%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 10, 0.8%) were the common co-morbidities. Haemoptysis was the most frequent presenting symptom, reported in up to 717 (57%) cases. Smoking (n = 69, 5.5%), recurrent lung infections (n = 41, 3%) and bronchorrhea (n = 33, 3%) were noted. This study confirms that CPA is common in Africa, with pulmonary tuberculosis being the most important risk factor.

Surgical management of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in Africa: A systematic review of 891 cases

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is an emerging fungal infectious disease of public health importance. We conducted a systematic review of studies reporting the outcomes of patients with CPA managed surgically in Africa. A search of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar and African Journals Online was conducted to identify studies indexed from inception to June 2021 that examined surgical management of CPA in Africa. All articles that presented primary data, including case reports and case series, were included. We excluded review articles. A total of 891 cases (557 males (62.5%), mean age 39.3 years) extracted from 27 eligible studies published between 1976 and 2020 from 11 African countries were included. Morocco (524, 59%) and Senegal (99, 11%) contributed the majority of cases. Active or previous pulmonary tuberculosis was reported in 677 (76.0%) cases. Haemoptysis was reported in 682 (76.5%) cases. Lobectomy (either unilateral or bilateral, n = 493, 55.3%), pneumonectomy (n = 154, 17.3%) and segmentectomy (n = 117, 13.1%) were the most frequently performed surgical procedures. Thirty (4.9%) cases from South Africa received bronchial artery embolisation. Empyema (n = 59, 27.4%), significant haemorrhage (n = 38, 173.7%), incomplete lung expansion (n = 26, 12.1%) and prolonged air leak (n = 24, 11.2%) were the most frequent complications. Overall, 45 (5.1%) patients died. The causes of death included respiratory failure (n = 14), bacterial superinfection/sepsis (n = 10), severe haemorrhage (n = 5), cardiopulmonary arrest (n = 3) and complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 3). The cause of death was either unknown or unspecified in 9 cases. We conclude that surgical treatment had very low mortality rates and maybe considered as first-line management option in centres with experience and expertise in Africa.

Massive haemoptysis from right middle lobe bronchus managed by customized silicon stents

Massive haemoptysis is life-threatening. Management options include pharmacological treatment, bronchial artery embolization, surgical resection, and bronchoscopic interventions. As an alternative treatment method of controlling haemoptysis, endobronchial stent insertion has been performed in several pulmonary carcinoma patients. We presented an 89-year-old bronchiectasis patient who developed massive haemoptysis from the right middle lobe bronchus. Haemoptysis was not controlled by both pharmacological treatment and bronchial artery embolization. Two customized silicone stents with the one in the right middle lobe bronchus and another in the right intermediate bronchus were used to manage haemoptysis. One month after stents implantation, the stent inside the right intermediate bronchus was removed, another stent was left in the right middle lobe bronchus to continue occluding the bleeding passageway. Haemoptysis did not occur after silicon stents deployment. This may be the first case of receiving straight silicon stent implantation to manage massive haemoptysis from the right middle lobe bronchus.

Management of recurrent haemoptysis in malignancy with combined TISSEEL and intrabronchial valves

Management of recurrent haemoptysis poses a difficult clinical scenario. TISSEEL (Baxter Healthcare Corporation Deerfield, IL, USA) is a fibrin sealant often used in surgery to aid control of bleeding. However, when endoscopic TISSEEL is used independently, migration, dislodgement, or even expectoration of the fibrin clot is a common complication that may lead to recurrence of haemoptysis. Here we describe two patients with recurrent haemoptysis in the context of malignancy who underwent bronchoscopy, during which they were managed with application of topical TISSEEL to the bleeding area, followed by deployment of an intrabronchial valve, followed by a further application of TISSEEL over the valve. The combination of TISSEEL and intrabronchial valve appeared to control haemoptysis and was resistant to expectoration or migration in these two cases. Thus, this combination may provide a safe and effective therapeutic option for the control of bronchial bleeding secondary to malignancy.

Approach to Hemoptysis in the Modern Era

Hemoptysis is a frequent manifestation of a wide variety of diseases, with mild to life-threatening presentations. The diagnostic workup and the management of severe hemoptysis are often challenging. Advances in endoscopic techniques have led to different new therapeutic approaches. Cold saline, vasoconstrictive and antifibrinolytic agents, oxidized regenerated cellulose, biocompatible glue, laser photocoagulation, argon plasma coagulation, and endobronchial stents and valves are amongst the tools available to the bronchoscopist. In this article, we review the evidence regarding the definition, etiology, diagnostic modalities, and treatment of severe hemoptysis in the modern era with emphasis on bronchoscopic techniques.