Nonbronchial systemic arteries: incidence and endovascular interventional management for hemoptysis / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the incidence and relation to primary diseases of the nonbronchial systemic arteries (NBSA) supply to the pulmonary lesions, and to evaluate the clinical value of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of the responsible NBSA for hemoptysis. Methods The aortography and subclavian artery angiography were performed in 139 patients with hemoptysis, including pulmonary tuberculosis in 66 cases (2 cases with post-thoracoplasty, 1 case with post-lobectomy, and 1 case with ventricular septal defect), bronchiectnsis in 41 ( 1 ease with post-lobectomy and 1 case with post- ligation of patent ductus arteriosus), bronchiogenic carcinoma in 15, unknown hemoptysis in 7, silicosis in 3, broncholithiasis in 3, bronchial cysts in 1, empyema in 1, postoperative lung cancer in 1, and chronic pulmonary embolism in 1, respectively. TAE was performed in patients with the discoverable responsible NBSA. The frequency, distribution and relation to primary diseases of the responsible NBSA were evaluated and the clinical results and complications were observed. Follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 5 years. Results Seventy-three patients (52. 5% ) had nonbronchial systemic contributions, including 5 cases of post-thoracotomy with pulmonary lesions, 1 case complicating with ventricular septal defect, 1 ease with post-ligation of patent ductus arterinsns, and 1 case of chronic pulmonary embolism. The total number of NBSA were 181 including posterior intercostal arteries (n = 88), internal thoracic arteries (n = 27 ), inferior phrenic arteries ( n = 21 ), proper esophageal arteries ( n = 20 ), lateral thoracic arteries ( n = 9 ), subscapular arteries ( n = 7 ), eostocervical trunks ( n = 5 ) and thyrocervical trunks ( n = 4 ) . Main responsible NBSA were posterior intercostal arteries (n = 75 ) and branches of subclavian and axillary artery (n =44) in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and proper esophageal arteries (n = 16 ) and inferior phrenic arteries (n = 17 ) in bronchiectasis. The clinical result was satisfactory and the bleeding ceased immediately in 69 eases including 19 cases of failed or repeated bronchial artery embolization (the arteries had been obstructive) and 4 cases of the normal bronchial arteries. No severe complications occurred except ipsilateral cerebellar infarction after subclavian artery angiography in 1 case and respiratory failure after internal thoracic artery embolization in another case. Sixty patients were followed up for more than 6 months. The result demonstrated episodic bloody sputum in 16 patients, re-bleeding in 11 and non-bleeding in another after TAE. Eight patients had non-bleeding and 2 patients had episodic bloody sputum who were re- bleeding and underwent repeated TAE. Conclusions The stimulation of adjacent lesions and the cardiovascular diseases with weakened or defected pulmonary perfusion can lead to the responsible NBSA supply to the lung in hemoptysis. During TAE for hemoptysis, the integrity angiograpby and TAE can improve the curative effect.