Bronchial bleeding caused by recurrent pneumonia after radical esophagectomy for esophageal cancer

We herein report a case of bronchial bleeding afterradical esophagectomy that was treated with lobectomy.A 65-year-old male who underwent subtotal esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection for esophageal carcinoma was referred to our hospital because of sudden hemoptysis.After the esophagectomy,bilateral vocal cord paralysis was observed,and the patient suffered from repeated episodes of aspiration pneumonia.Bronchoscopy revealed hemosputum in the right middle lobe bronchus,and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed tortuous arteries arising from the right inferior phrenic artery and left subclavian artery toward the right middle lobe bronchus.Although bronchial arterial embolization was performed twice to control the recurrent hemoptysis,the procedures were unsuccessful.Right middle lobectomy was therefore performed via video-assisted thoracic surgery.Engorged bronchial arterys with medial hypertrophy and overgrowth of the small branches were noted near the bronchus in the resected specimen.The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on postoperative day 14.     

Treatment of massive hemoptysis by combined occlusion of pulmonary and bronchial arteries.

Massive, life-threatening hemoptysis occurred in a patient with left upper lobe bronchiectasis secondary to old tuberculosis. Selective left bronchial arteriography showed extravasation of contrast medium in the bronchiectatic area. A marked decrease in hemoptysis occurred after selective left bronchial arterial embolization. Complete cessation of bleeding followed the inflation of a Swan-Ganz balloon catheter that had been placed in the left main pulmonary artery.     

A case of pulmonary actinomycosis with recurrent hemoptysis]

A 68-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis in September 1999. Chest CT scans showed a nodular shadow with infiltration in the right S 7. Bronchial arteriography showed vascularization in the right S 7, and bronchial artery embolization was performed. However, in April and October 2000 hemoptysis recurred, and bronchial arteriography showed recurrence of vascularization in the same area, so embolization was performed again. Then, the patient was admitted in March 2001 because of recurrent hemoptysis. CT scans showed growth of the nodular shadow. Right lower lobectomy was performed, and the microscopic findings in the tissue from the resected lobe showed branching filamentous bacteria, and pulmonary actinomycosis was diagnosed. We concluded that pulmonary actinomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nodular shadows with recurrent hemoptysis.     

Moderate hemoptysis of unknown etiology.

The underlying cause and treatment of hemoptysis should be addressed promptly to avoid potentially life-threatening complications. We report on a previously healthy 11-year-old white boy who presented with acute hemoptysis. On bronchoscopy, bleeding was noted from the right upper and lower lobes. Right bronchial arteriography revealed multiple regions of abnormal "blushing" throughout the right bronchial arterial distribution which was successfully controlled by right bronchial arterial embolization. In spite of an extensive work-up, we were not able to determine the cause of bleeding. The patient has been followed for 18 months without any recurrence and without evidence of any systemic disease. Our patient does not fit any diagnostic category of pulmonary bleeding and further case reports are needed to delineate this entity.     

Primary racemose hemangioma of bronchial artery]

A 38-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of massive hemoptysis. A chest X-ray film disclosed an infiltrative shadow. A bronchoscopic examination revealed a small, pulsatile, papillary protrusion in the orifice of the middle lobe bronchus, and massive bleeding from the protrusion was observed during the examination. Bronchial arteriography showed convolution and mild hypervascularization of the right bronchial artery. A middle lobectomy was performed, and the protrusion was histologically shown to be a primary racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery.     

Bronchial artery embolization can be effective for primary racemose hemangioma]

We report two cases of primary racemose hemangioma in patients with hemoptysis. In the first, a 59-year-old man had a pulsatile polypoid lesion in the bronchus of the lingula; and in the second, a 24-year-old woman had a nodule in the bronchus of the right lower lobe. In both patients, arteriography of the bronchial artery revealed enlargement and convolution of its branches. Primary racemose hemangioma was diagnosed in both patients. The arteriography also revealed a shunt between the pulmonary and bronchial arteries in the woman. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) was an effective treatment for the hemoptysis. To date, eight months after the embolization, hemoptysis has not recurred. Bronchoscopy and arteriography of the bronchial artery are both useful for diagnosing primary racemose hemangioma. BAE seems to be effective in treating primary racemose hemangioma.     

A case of primary racemose hemangioma of bronchial artery with recurrent hemoptysis]

A 42-year old man was admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis. Bronchial arteriography revealed a tortuous and dilated left bronchial artery with a shunt formation between the bronchial and pulmonary arteries. Bronchial artery embolization using a sponge was performed three times to treat the hemoptysis, but all attempts failed. The patient therefore underwent left lower lobectomy, after which no hemoptysis was observed. Histopathologically, the resected tissue showed no inflammatory change. Interestingly, abnormal vessels resembling arteriovenous malformations were also found. Although the embolization therapy was effective in several reported cases, we concluded that surgery was required for this patient with persistent hemoptysis because of the development of collaterals and a bronchial-pulmonary artery shunt.     

Lethal hemoptysis caused by biopsy injury of an abnormal bronchial artery

A 62-year-old man with a long history of lung disease developed atelectasis of the right middle lung lobe, caused by a protrusion in the wall of the middle lobe bronchus. A biopsy was performed in the suspicious region. This was immediately followed by massive arterial bleeding into the airways and complicated by cardiac arrest soon after. The bleeding could not be controlled by nonsurgical treatment; the patient died 24 h after the complication because of pulmonary insufficiency. Autopsy revealed the bleeding to have been caused by a biopsy injury of a bronchial artery that had run superficially in the bronchial mucosa and had produced the intrabronchial protrusion. Several other abnormal intrabronchial arteries were found peripherally in this lung.     

支气管动脉栓塞术治疗148例大咯血回顾性临床分析

目的 分析支气管动脉造影及支气管动脉栓塞术(BAE)的安全性及有效性.方法 回顾性分析我院2009年3月至2016年4月148例因大咯血行BAE患者的病因、临床特点、栓塞术细节、术后结果及并发症.结果 148例行支气管动脉造影及BAE,其中男118例,女30例,年龄14～91岁.活动性肺结核及肺结核相关后遗症如慢性纤维性病变、空洞是大咯血的主要病因,本资料共83例患者与肺结核相关.另外不明原因咯血30例(20.3％).对其所有相关动脉给予评价.造影中出现血管迂曲、肥厚、点状及片状渗出被认为是靶向血管特征.双侧支气管动脉(64例)是本资料最常见的责任血管动脉,其次是右侧支气管动脉(53例)、左侧支气管动脉(23例)、肋间后动脉(23例).栓塞材料中明胶海绵为所有BAE者均有使用.明胶海绵联合聚乙烯醇颗粒28例,明胶海绵联合弹簧圈68例.在148例行BAE治疗患者中,120例术后立即止血.25例术后再发出血,其中14例接受保守治疗(6例成功,8例死亡),7例再次行BAE,4例行外科手术治疗(3例成功,1例死亡).术后记录到3例严重的并发症,脊髓横贯性截瘫1例,急性青光眼1例,脑梗死1例.共出现63例轻度并发症,胸痛32例和低热31例.结论 BAE对于控制大咯血是有效的治疗方法.重复BAE的有效性及安全性同样值得肯定.但术后严重并发症仍需我们关注.     

A case of intractable hemoptysis originating from the branches of the right subclavian artery, successfully treated with arterial coil embolization]

A 30-year-old woman was admitted because of persistent and severe hemoptysis in November 2005. She had been given a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonia (IP) and pulmonary aspergilloma in 2001, and she was treated with oral prednisolone and itraconazole. However she had persistent and intractable hemoptysis. Multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) revealed that hemoptysis from the right upper lobe did not originate in bronchial arteries, but the abnormal branches of the right subclavian artery. Surgery was not performed because of her pulmonary function, but she was successfully treated by non-bronchial arterial coil embolization. At 10 months after the embolization, hemoptysis has not recurred. MDCT was very useful for diagnosing the cause of hemoptysis and selective nonbronchial arterial coil embolization might be helpful in treating intractable or refractory hemoptysis.     

A case of idiopathic bronchial artery aneurysm connecting to the pulmonary artery]

Case. A 54-year old woman was found to have an abnormal shadow in a regular checkup chest X-ray film. We suspected a bronchial artery aneurysm based on a contrast-enhanced chest CT. Aortography, bronchial arteriography and pulmonary arteriography showed a bronchial artery aneurysm, 2 cm in diameter, connecting the right bronchial artery, inferior phrenic artery, and pulmonary artery. Bronchoscopy revealed dilatation and hypervascularity of moniliform submucosal vessels below the right truncus intermedius. She underwent bronchial artery embolization several times, but new feeding vessels developed each time. We considered this case required surgical resection. Bronchoscopy after aneurysmectomy revealed decrease of moniliform submucosal vessels. Histological examination revealed a three-layer structure leading to both the pulmonary and bronchial arteries. Conclusion. We diagnosed idiopathic bronchial artery aneurysm connecting to a pulmonary artery.     

A case of pulmonary actinomycosis with recurrent hemoptysis diagnosed after right upper lobectomy]

The patient was a 58-year-old man who had been admitted in 1995 because of hemoptysis. Chest CT scans showed air-space consolidation with dilated bronchi and calcification in the right S3. He received a diagnosis of bronchiectasis with old tuberculosis. Bronchial arteriography showed arterialization in the right S3, and bronchial artery embolization was performed. But in 1996 hemoptysis reappeared. He was readmitted in May 1999 because of recurrent hemoptysis. Bronchial arteriography showed recurrence of arterialization in the same area, and chest CT scans showed growth of the mass shadow. Right upper lobectomy was performed, and the microscopic findings of the resected specimen showed sulfur granules in the dilated bronchus. We concluded that pulmonary actinomycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abnormal chest shadows.     

A case of Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome: therapeutic embolization of the pulmonary artery and bronchial artery]

We encountered a case in which the symptoms of hypoxia and hemoptysis improved after performing repeated pulmonary artery embolizations and bronchial artery embolization. A 22-year-old man was hospitalized in our institution with high fever, headache and unconsciousness in May of 2001. Subendocranial abscess was diagnosed, so we performed antibiotic therapy and drainage, but at that time he showed symptoms of hypoxia. We diagnosed Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome because of multiple small nodular shadows in his chest CT, multiple arteriovenous fistulae in both lungs on pulmonary arteriography, and telangiectasis. We performed pulmonary artery embolization 6 times, and his hypoxia and right to left shunts improved. In the course of our therapy, hemoptysis appeared and dilatation of vessels was detected in the left bronchial arteriography, so we performed embolization of the left bronchial artery and the symptom improved. We concluded that we should take care to detect not only pulmonary arterial lesions but also bronchial arterial leisions in the diagnosis and therapy of respiratory symptoms of Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome.     

Primary racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery

A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for repeated hemoptysis. Selective angiography of the bilateral bronchial arteries showed them to be enlarged and convoluted, and revealed shunts between the bronchial and pulmonary arteries. The patient was diagnosed as having racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery. Although embolization of the bronchial artery with gelatin sponges was performed, hemoptysis emerged again about one year later. Finally, segmentectomy of the right lower lung was performed and primary racemose hemangioma of the bronchial artery was histopathologically confirmed.     

Bronchial artery embolization : experience with 54 patients

OBJECTIVES: To report our experience with bronchial arteriography and bronchial artery embolization (BAE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of clinical experience to evaluate the demographics, clinical presentation, radiographic studies, bronchoscopy, and complications of bronchial arteriography and BAE at Mayo Medical Center, Rochester, MN, from 1981 to 2000. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients underwent bronchial arteriography. There were 34 men and 20 women with a mean age of 53 years. Hemoptysis was the most common indication in 53 patients (98%). Hemoptysis was caused by bronchiectasis (9 patients), pulmonary hypertension (9 patients), malignancy (7 patients), mycetoma (7 patients), and other identified causes (14 patients). The cause could not be identified in eight patients. Bronchoscopy was performed in 49 patients (92%), and the results identified the bleeding lobe in 32 patients, lateralized the side of the bleeding in 5 patients, and were not helpful in 12 patients. Bronchial arteriography revealed hypervascularity (45 patients), bronchial artery hypertrophy (17 patients), hypervascularity with shunting (15 patients), dense soft tissue staining (8 patients), vascular abnormalities (7 patients), and extravasation of contrast (1 patient). BAE was attempted in 54 patients, completed in 51 patients, and was unsuccessful in 3 patients. Overall, 72 embolization sessions were performed with a total of 131 arteries embolized, and the average number of arteries embolized per patient was 2.5. Control of hemoptysis was observed in 46 patients (85%) at 1 month. Rebleeding occurred within 30 days in five patients. Eight patients had recurrent hemoptysis that occurred 30 days after the procedure. The complications of embolization included subintimal dissection of a bronchial artery (two patients), bronchial arterial perforation by a guidewire (one patient), and the reflux of embolic material into the aorta without adverse sequelae (one patient). CONCLUSIONS: BAE is a useful therapy to control both acute and chronic hemoptysis. BAE may help to avoid surgery in patients who are not good surgical candidates. Should hemoptysis recur in these patients, repeat embolization can be performed safely.     

Successful thoracoscopic ligation and transection of racemose hemangioma of bronchial artery]

We used thoracoscopy for the successful ligation and transection of a racemose hemangioma of bronchial artery. The patient was a 61-year-old woman who had been admitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis. Bronchoscopic examination revealed bulging lesions covered with normal bronchial mucosa in the right B5 and B8, and bronchial arteriography revealed a shunt between the right bronchial arteries and pulmonary arteries and veins. Ligation and transection of the right bronchial artery under thoracoscopy was performed. Hemoptysis has not recurred 9 months after the operation. Thoracoscopic ligation and transection of bronchial artery may be an effective and less invasive procedure for the treatment of racemose hemangioma.     

A case of lung tuberculosis showing no chest radiograph findings with recurrent hemoptysis

A 59-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of hemoptysis. A chest X-ray film and 7 mm-slice CT scan showed no abnormal finding. Bronchoscopy revealed hemorrhage in the right upper bronchus (B1a) Bronchial lavage of the lesion was performed, but Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not detected. Because of repeated hemoptysis, he was admitted to our hospital. Right bronchial artery angiograph showed vascular hyperplasia in the peripheral part of the upper lobal branch, and this lesion was suggested to be a bleeding point. There were no vascular malformations. Thin slice (0.5 mm-thick) CT scan showed mild infiltrative shadow in the right upper lobe. After admission, sputa smear for mycobacteria and PCR for M. tuberculosis became positive, and he was diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis. After starting antituberculous chemotherapy, hemoptysis disappeared, and sputa smear and culture for mycobacteria converted to negative. This case suggests that lung tuberculosis should be suspected in patients having hemoptysis, even though they had no chest X-ray film abnormality.     

肺结核中量及大量咯血患者非支气管动脉出血的影像改变和介入处理

目的　分析肺结核中量及大量咯血患者非支气管动脉出血动脉造影征象及介入治疗价值。方法 对214例肺结核中量及大量咯血患者,进行肋间动脉和锁骨下动脉造影,其中支气管动脉合并肋间动脉出血153例,合并胸廓内动脉出血3例,同时合并肋间动脉和胸廓内动脉出血4例,合并肋间动脉、胸廓内动脉、胸上动脉出血和胸外侧动脉出血2例,合并肋间动脉、胸廓内动脉和甲状颈干分支出血1例,合并肋间动脉和膈下动脉出血2例。对造影明确出血血管进行栓塞并观察其临床疗效和并发症。结果 DSA造影发现支气管动脉合并肋间动脉出血153例,共465支肋间动脉出血,10.9%(51/465)有造影剂外溢直接征象,96.9%(451/465)有异常网状血管,43.2%(201/465)有出血动脉-肺动脉瘘或出血动脉-肺静脉瘘,32.9%(153/465)动脉造影有侧枝交通与出血的支气管动脉或邻近的肋间动脉相通。10支胸廓内动脉出血,动脉造影有异常网状血管并有侧枝交通与出血的支气管动脉或肋间动脉相通,2支胸上动脉出血和2支胸外侧动脉出血,动脉造影有异常网状血管并有侧枝交通与出血的肋间动脉相通,1支甲状颈干分支2支膈下动脉出血,动脉造影有异常网状血管。单次栓塞治疗有效率84.2%,多次栓塞治疗有效率96.4%。并发症为胸闷、胸背痛、发热。结论 肋间动脉、胸廓内动脉动脉、胸上动脉、胸外侧动脉、甲状颈干分支和膈下动脉造影和栓塞治疗对肺结核中量及大量咯血有重要的临床意义,可提高疗效防止复发。     

隐源性咯血的介入诊断和治疗

目的 探讨隐源性咯血的支气管动脉造影 (BAG)的影像表现与病理机制之间的关系,为其诊断和出血定位寻求可靠依据。方法 1 选择隐源性咯血病人52例,包括以下两种情况：(1)常规影像学检查阴性 (胸部平片、断层阴性,部分病人同期CT及支气管碘油造影阴性) (2)一个肺叶或一侧肺内有少量病变,但BAG证实为非咯血病灶,而另叶或另段肺内有出血征象,计17例。全部病例行Seldinger穿刺技术,导管经主动脉置入双侧支气管动脉造影,确认有造影的直接或间接出血征象,行双重栓塞术。2 另选5例术前影像学检查证实为支气管病变、BAG检查证实为出血部位和出血原因的病例,因栓塞止血无效或其他病变而行手术切除。对5例手术切除标本进行病理镜下检查,分析其与BAG所见的相关性。结果 全部咯血病例,BAG均有不同程度的血管增生紊乱,典型者为扫帚状或网状增生、紊乱的血管束,严重者伴有肺内出血病灶。结合支气管扩张手术标本中的病理所见,如支气管周围支气管动脉的血管数增多、扭曲等,两者的血管改变呈一致性。结论 1 隐源性咯血的病理机制为支气管动脉损伤,而支气管动脉的损伤又为支气管动脉感染所致。故经BAG提示的血管异常改变可以为隐源性咯血的诊断和出血定位提供依据。2 支气管动脉造影和栓塞集诊断与治疗为一体,病人创伤小,且安全有效,在抢救大咯血方面具有实际意义,为控制大咯血提供了一种实用的新途径。     

A case of bronchial arterial aneurysm associated with recurrent massive hemoptysis]

A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of massive hemoptysis. Bronchial arteriography showed no abnormal findings. Bronchoscopic findings revealed a small, reddish elevated lesion on the posterior surface of the left upper lobe bronchus. Since the patient developed massive hemoptysis four times in a month, he underwent ligation and transection of the left bronchial artery, and bronchoplasty. Histopathologically, the resected tissue showed a bronchial arterial aneurysm without any inflammatory changes. We concluded that the aneurysm had developed in a malformed vessel.