ABSTRACT
Fundamento. La hemoptisis significativa es un problema clínico frecuente y grave. El objetivo del presente trabajo era comparar los hallazgos obtenidos mediante las diferentes técnicas diagnósticas empleadas en estos casos. Pacientes y métodos. Fueron incluidos 40 pacientes ingresados en el Hospital Clínico de Zaragoza por hemoptisis significativas, y a los que se realizó una arteriografía bronquial (AB) selectiva. Se utilizaron como técnicas diagnósticas la fibrobroncoscopia (FB), la radiografía simple de tórax (RT) y la tomografía computarizada (TC), tomándose y comparándose los hallazgos más significativos para cada una de las técnicas y empleándose la AB como referencia; se utiliza el coeficiente Kappa como método de validación interobservadores para cada una de las pruebas radiológicas y se calcula el cociente de probabilidades como indicador de calidad diagnóstica de las distintas pruebas. Resultados. La RT es una buena técnica diagnóstica con determinadas imágenes. La TC guarda una buena fiabilidad diagnóstica con determinados patrones radiológicos; por el contrario la FB obtuvo en nuestra serie peores resultados de los esperados. Conclusiones. La RT es la primera técnica diagnóstica a realizar por su sencillez, bajo coste y por la información que aporta con determinados patrones. Respecto a la TC, guarda una elevada correlación de manera global. La FB presenta, pese a unos resultados pobres en nuestra serie a la hora de localizar el punto sangrante, la ventaja de poder realizar toma de muestras y maniobras terapeúticas en determinadas situaciones (AU)
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Male , Middle Aged , Humans , Angiography/methods , Thorax , Tomography, Emission-Computed/methods , Hemoptysis , Bronchoscopy/methods , Hemoptysis/diagnosis , Hemoptysis/physiopathology , Lung , Lung/pathology , Diagnostic Imaging/methodsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate and long-term efficacy of transcatheter embolization of bronchial, systemic and pulmonary arteries to treat life-threatening hemoptysis. Likewise, we propose the systematic treatment of life-threatening hemoptysis by means of transcatheter embolization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred seven angiographies were performed on the same number of patients experiencing life-threatening hemoptysis with bleeding exceeding 150 ml in 24 hours. Before angiography, we rinsed the vessels with cold saline solution and adrenalin through the catheter. Thirty-three patients were female and 74 were male. Mean age was 52.3 years (range 12 to 75 years). Embolization was performed in 104 (3 in patients with recurrent hemoptysis) using polyvinyl alcohol and micro-coils. Bronchial and systemic arteries of the affected hemithorax (mammary and lateral thoracic arteries) were checked in all patients. If findings were negative or bleeding was recurrent, we also performed pulmonary arteriography. RESULTS: In two cases we were unable to catheterize the artery theoretically responsible for bleeding. Examination of both arterial and systemic vessels proved normal in one patient. The embolization technique was successful in 99% (103/104) of the cases and the rate of immediate clinical success was 95.1% (99/104). The mean time of follow-up was 43.2 months (range 3 to 66 months). Hemoptysis recurred in 15.3% (16 cases) within a mean 8.3 months (range 15 days to 48 months); embolization was repeated in 14 of these patients with satisfactory results, while two underwent surgery. In five patients (4.8%) we observed complications requiring no additional medical treatment: one instance of coil migration to the deep femoral artery, from which the coil was removed in a basket; two cases of bronchial artery extravasation with small mediastinal hematomas; and two hematomas at the points of puncture. CONCLUSION: Selective or supra-selective embolization of the arteries that feed the bronchi provides effective management of life-threatening hemoptysis. No additional medical treatment is usually required.
