Recombinant activated factor VII for massive hemoptysis in patients with cystic fibrosis

Valve Replacement for Massive Hemoptysis in Mitral Stenosis: An Uncommon Course in Modern Practice

Massive hemoptysis is uncommon in mitral stenosis in contemporary practice. We report a patient without any previous illness presenting with life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage, who was initially managed as cryptogenic hemoptysis. Once mitral stenosis was confirmed, the patient underwent mitral valve replacement with total and complete cessation of bleeding.

Treatment of Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage: Controlling Inflammation and Obtaining Rapid and Effective Hemostasis

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a life-threatening pulmonary complication in patients with hematologic malignancies or systemic autoimmune disorders. Pathologic findings show pulmonary capillaritis, bland hemorrhage, diffuse alveolar damage, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages, but in the majority of cases, pathogenesis remains unclear. Despite the severity and high mortality, the current treatment options for DAH remain empirical. Systemic treatment to control inflammatory activity including high-dose corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab and supportive care have been applied, but largely unsuccessful in critical cases. Activated recombinant factor VII (FVIIa) can achieve rapid local hemostasis and has been administered either systemically or intrapulmonary for the treatment of DAH. However, there is no randomized controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety, and the use of FVIIa for DAH remains open to debate. This review discusses the pathogenesis, diverse etiologies causing DAH, diagnosis, and treatments focusing on hemostasis using FVIIa. In addition, the risks and benefits of the off-label use of FVIIa in pediatric patients will be discussed in detail.

Thoracic Injury in Patients Injured by Explosions on the Battlefield and in Terrorist Incidents

Thoracic injury is common on the battlefield and in terrorist attacks, occurring in 10% to 70% of patients depending on the type of weapons used. Typical injuries seen include bullet, blast, and fragment injuries to the thorax, which are often associated with injuries to other parts of the body. Initial treatment prehospital and in the ED is carried out according to the principles of Tactical Combat Casualty Care or other standard trauma management systems. Immediately life-threatening problems including catastrophic hemorrhage are dealt with rapidly, and early consideration is given to CT scanning or rapid surgical intervention where appropriate. All patients should be given lung-protective ventilation. Treatment of these patients in the critical care unit is complicated by the severity of associated injuries and by features specific to combat trauma including blast lung injury, a high incidence of delirium, unusual infections such as colonization with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii complex, and sometimes invasive fungal infections. A minority of patients with blast lung injury in published series have been successfully treated with prolonged respiratory support with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The role of newer treatment options such as resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta is not yet known. In this article we review the relatively sparse literature on this group of patients and provide practical advice based on the literature and our institution's extensive experience of managing battlefield casualties.

Management of severe hemoptysis

INTRODUCTION

Though rare, severe hemoptysis (SH) is associated with a mortality rate exceeding 50% when not managed properly. Areas covered: This paper reviews the recent epidemiological data regarding SH, the role of multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA), and fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) in its management, as well as the value of current treatments. Expert commentary: MDCTA is becoming an essential modality, since it allows determining the location, etiology, and mechanism of the bleeding. FOB can be delayed, except when local control of bleeding is required. Emergency treatment relies on interventional radiology. Both bronchial and non-bronchial arteries should be explored during bronchial arteriography. Surgery must be considered in all operable patients if the cause of hemoptysis persists.

An Interventionalist's Guide to Hemoptysis in Cystic Fibrosis

Massive hemoptysis occurs in a minority of patients with cystic fibrosis, with an annual incidence of 1%. Although rare, massive hemoptysis can be a severe and potentially fatal complication of this disease. Beyond the acute life-threatening event, hemoptysis in patients with cystic fibrosis has been associated with faster decline in lung function, accelerated need for lung transplant, and increased mortality. The bronchial arteries are the culprit vessels in over 90% of cases of hemoptysis. This normally quiescent vascular system undergoes remarkable hypertrophy, collateralization, and angiogenesis before the onset of hemoptysis, introducing numerous pitfalls for the interventionalist. However, in experienced hands, bronchial artery embolization is a safe and potentially lifesaving therapy. Preprocedural noninvasive imaging, specifically computed tomographic angiography, has been repeatedly validated for helping to localize the likely site of bleeding, characterizing pertinent arterial anatomy, and promoting efficient and effective intervention; it has been recommended for all stable patients with hemoptysis. Success in the angiographic suite requires a thorough understanding of normal and variant bronchial arterial anatomy, appropriate patient selection, and a meticulous embolization technique. A meticulous approach to imaging and intervention, conscientious of both visualized and nonvisualized collateral pathways and nontarget vessels, can minimize potentially devastating complications. This review summarizes the current literature, modern procedural techniques, and emerging controversies, serving to guide an evolving approach to management of patients with cystic fibrosis and hemoptysis. ^©RSNA, 2018.

Cystic fibrosis: management of haemoptysis

Haemoptysis is a common complication in cystic fibrosis (CF), occurring in approximately 9% of the population. Massive haemoptysis is associated with older patients, more severe disease and carries a high mortality rate. Despite this there are few robust published studies of effective treatments and knowledge of the precise pathogenesis is limited. Current guidelines for treatment from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) are based on consensus opinion of experts. Patients with massive haemoptysis who do not respond to initial medical treatments should undergo bronchial artery embolization. This will control the bleeding in the majority of cases but recurrence rates are high and there are little data to support long-term improved outcomes. Surgery is a last resort in patients with CF.

[Severe haemoptysis: indications for triage and admission to hospital or intensive care unit]

Recognition of the criteria of severity and the early admission to a referral center play a critical role in the prognosis of severe haemoptysis. The therapeutic management should be undertaken urgently by providing general supportive care, i.e., optimization of oxygenation and haemodynamic stabilization to prevent recurrence of massive bleeding. Interventional radiology has dramatically improved the initial management of severe haemoptysis. Attempts to control haemoptysis by first-line non-surgical methods are necessary to optimize the operative conditions and improve morbidity and mortality. Surgical lung resection remains the treatment of choice in selected patients with localized lesions complicated by severe and/or recurrent episodes of haemoptysis (bronchiectasis) or lesions associated with a high risk of recurrence of bleeding (mycetoma). Haemoptysis related to pulmonary arterial involvement remains a surgical emergency.