Long-term outcomes of the bronchial artery embolization are diagnosis dependent

The efficacy, safety, and related factors of bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis with subgroup analysis

Background

Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is a common and important way to manage hemoptysis. This study's purpose was to summarize the efficacy, safety, and related factors of BAE in the treatment of hemoptysis.

Methods

From January 2010 to August 2023, a systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Original studies with BAE for hemoptysis were included, with no restrictions on language. The outcomes of interest were technical success rate, clinical success rate, recurrence rate, mortality rate, and major complication rate. Pooled proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was employed for quality assessment. Factors such as publication year, region, sample size, amount of hemoptysis, etiology, and embolization materials were extracted for subgroup analyses. Additionally, sensitivity analyses and test for publication bias were conducted.

Results

A total of 32 studies, including 6,032 patients, met our inclusion criteria. 27 studies were of high quality, while five of moderate quality. The results indicated the prevalence of technical success was 97.2% (95% CI: 95.1-98.8%) and 93.2% (95% CI: 90.3-95.7%) in clinical success. Hemoptysis recurrence and mortality rates after BAE were 24.8% (95% CI: 20.5-29.4%) and 2.3% (95% CI: 1.1-3.8%), respectively. Moreover, the pooled prevalence of major complication was 0.1% (95% CI: 0.0-0.4%). Subgroup analysis revealed that studies published after 2017 demonstrated a higher technical success rate and a lower recurrence rate. Massive hemoptysis showed a higher technical success rate but a lower clinical success rate. BAE also demonstrated superior efficacy in patients with bronchiectasis. The clinical success rate was significantly higher in patients with benign diseases than those with malignancies. Gelatin sponge (GS) showed poor embolization efficacy. N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) and coils exhibited reduced recurrence rates, while NBCA displayed an even lower recurrence rate than non-absorbable particles. The study by Ishikawa et al. influenced the stability of the pooled major complication rate, and the sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the remaining results.

Conclusions

BAE is safe and effective in treating different degrees of hemoptysis caused by benign and malignant lesions. Promising clinical efficacy was observed with NBCA as an embolic material for the treatment of hemoptysis. However, further conclusions should be investigated using evidence-based medicine.

FEASIBILITY STUDY OF LOW TUBE VOLTAGE COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY (CTA) FOR BRONCHIAL ARTERY IMAGING IN PATIENTS WITH HEMOPTYSIS

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the application of low tube voltage computer tomography angiography (CTA) in bronchial artery (BA) imaging in hemoptysis patients.

METHODS

Between January 2017 and December 2021, 119 patients were studied, including 31 in the 80-kV group, 39 in the 100-kV group and 49 in the control group (120 kV). The CT dose index-volume (CTDIvol) (mGy) and effective dose (ED) (mSv) of each group were comparatively analysed. Image quality evaluation included the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and subjective 5-scores.

RESULTS

Statistically significant differences were noted in CTDIvol, ED, SNR, CNR and image quality scores of the groups (P < 0.05). Comparative analysis showed no statistical difference in CTDIvol, ED and image quality scores between the 80- and 100-kV groups.

CONCLUSION

Low tube voltage CTA is useful in BA imaging for hemoptysis patients. Tube voltages of 100 kV have better image quality and lower radiation dose.

Bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To assess the safety and efficacy of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for hemoptysis.

Methods and materials

Databases with articles published in English, including Pubmed, Embase, Web of science and Chochrane library, were comprehensively searched to get accurate, up-to-date and sufficient literature about BAE for hemoptysis until March 2020. The technical success rates, immediate control rates, recurrence rates, mortality rates, and total complication rates (minor and major complication rates) extracted from the articles were pooled to estimate and assess the efficacy and safety of BAE using random-effect and fixed-effect models.

Results

21 articles published between 2008 and 2019, which include a total of 2511 patients, were studied to evaluate the safety and efficacy of BAE. The technical success and immediate control rates are 99.9% (95%CI: 99%–100%) and 99.5% (95%CI: 97.8%–99.2%), respectively. This study showed hemoptysis recurrence in 23.7% (95%CI: 18.5%–28.9%) with a mortality rate of 2% (95%CI: 0–3%). Additionally, the assessment of complications revealed a total complication rate of 13.4% (95% CI: 7.6–19.2%), in which 0.2% (95% CI: 0.2–0.4%) were major complications and 10% (95% CI: 4.7–9.6%) were minor complications.

Conclusion

BAE is an effective, safe, and feasible procedure with a low complication rate for hemoptysis patients. However, recurrence of hemoptysis is still at high risk after BAE due to different underlying diseases.

Clinical outcomes of cystic fibrosis patients with hemoptysis treated with bronchial artery embolization

OBJECTIVE

Massive hemoptysis is one of the most serious complications in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). This study aimed to evaluate the hemoptysis-free period following bronchial and non-bronchial artery embolization (BAE/non-BAE) in CF patients and to investigate predictors of recurrent bleeding and mortality by any cause.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of CF patients ≥ 16 years of age undergoing BAE/non-BAE for hemoptysis between 2000 and 2017.

RESULTS

We analyzed 39 hemoptysis episodes treated with BAE/non-BAE in 17 CF patients. Hemoptysis recurrence rate was 56.4%. Of the sample as a whole, 3 (17.6%) were hemoptysis-free during the study period, 2 (11.8%) underwent lung transplantation, and 3 (17.6%) died. The median hemoptysis-free period was 17 months. The median hemoptysis-free period was longer in patients with chronic infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (31 months; 95% CI: 0.00-68.5) than in those without that type of infection (4 months; 95% CI: 1.8-6.2; p = 0.017). However, this association was considered weak, and its clinical significance was uncertain due to the small number of patients without that infection.

CONCLUSIONS

BAE appears to be effective in the treatment of hemoptysis in patients with CF.

Bronchial arterial embolization may reduce the risk of severe bleeding in central airway obstruction due to renal cell carcinomas during bronchoscopic procedures

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhage is a life-threatening complication during bronchoscopic intervention in patients with central airway obstruction (CAO) due to metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Whether pre-bronchoscopic bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) can reduce the risk of severe bleeding in CAO patients due to metastatic RCC remains unclear.

METHODS

A total of 31 CAO patients due to metastatic RCC were included retrospectively and divided into a BAE group (receiving pre-bronchoscopic BAE) and non-BAE group in this study. Based on computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopic findings, tumor debulking was used to reconstruct the airway during interventional bronchoscopy. The primary outcome was the incidence of severe bleeding during bronchoscopic procedures. Bleeding-related complications, Karnofsky performance score (KPS) and dyspnea score were also analyzed over a 1-month observation period.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between the two groups in baseline characteristics, including patients' features, tumor morphology under CT scannings, tumor site, and obstruction degree under bronchoscopic examination. Procedure-related bleeding occurred in all 31 patients. Pre-bronchoscopic BAE significantly reduced the incidence of moderate and major bleeding when compared with that in the non-BAE group. The incidence of poor visualization and hypoxia was also reduced significantly in the BAE group. There was no significant difference in KPS and dyspnea score between the BAE and non-BAE groups at 1 month follow up.

CONCLUSION

Pre-bronchoscopic BAE might be a feasible option to reduce the risk of severe bleeding for CAO patients due to metastatic RCC during bronchoscopic intervention. Interventional bronchoscopy was a safe and effective procedure for CAO due to metastatic RCC.The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

POSSIBILITIES OF USING MINIINVASIVE CATHETER TECHNOLOGIES IN THE TREATMENT OF LUNG BLEEDING

Aim – improve the results of the treatment of patients with pulmonary bleeding through widespread use of endovascular surgery methods for hemostasis. Materials and methods. Method of endovascular embolization of bronchial arteries is widely used in our clinic SI «Zaycev V. T. Institute of General and Emergency surgery of NAMS of Ukraine» not only as independent surgery in patients with LB, but also as way of preparation of patients with lung bleeding for planned thorax surgery. The most of the often spread nosological forms complicated by bleeding in our research were polycystic lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis disease, community-acquired pneumonia. Indications to the сatheter embolization procedure of bronchial arteries are the following: conservative treatment failure, hemoptysis in patients with bilateral inflammatory processes who was not prescribed surgical treatment for a range of reasons, absence of gross structural changes, lung resection, mainly in patients with oncologic lung injury, at massive and life-threatening profuse bleedings as a mean of temporary or constant hemostasis. Discussed treatment method is applied only in bleeding or within a 6 – 12 hour after its treatment. Successful result in embolization can be obtained in 79–99 %. Results. As a result of complete physical examination of patients with LB, it has been established that lung hemorrhage was the result of obstructive bronchitis in 14 patients (42 %), there was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 7 (21 %) patients and bronchiectasis was diagnosed in 6 (18 %) patients. In 2 (6 %) patients pulmonary hemorrhage was caused by community-acquired pneumonia. Central lung cancer was detected in 4 (12 %) patients. Conclusion. Therefore bronchial artery angiography gives high efficiency in solving the problem of hemostasis in oncological and nonspecific lung diseases, for determination of localization and source of bleeding. Endovascular occlusion of bronchial arteries in pulmonary hemorrhage permits: – to elaborate diagnosis because of the presence of specific angiographic signs of malignant tumour; – to perform effective endovascular hemostasis; – to gain time for stabilization the patient with the aim of planned surgical treatment.

Extreme recurrent massive hemoptysis in a cystic fibrosis patient requiring 22 separate embolization procedures prior to lung transplantation: A case report

While bronchial artery embolization is an established, safe, and effective treatment for massive hemoptysis from a variety of causes including cystic fibrosis, patients rarely require more than 2 angiography and embolization treatments during their lifetime. We present a rare case of massive, recurrent hemoptysis requiring a total of 22 angiography and embolization procedures over a period of 8 years, prior to the patient receiving a double lung transplant.

Long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with mild hemoptysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this retrospective study was to observe the long-term outcomes of conservative treatment and bronchial artery embolization (BAE) in patients with mild hemoptysis and to analyze the risk factors associated with hemoptysis recurrence.

METHODS

Patients with mild hemoptysis from January 2005 to January 2016 were enrolled in this study. The patients' medical records, including smoking history, etiologic diseases, bronchoscopic findings, mortality, BAE information, and follow-up data of recurrent hemoptysis, were reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 288 patients with mild hemoptysis were included in this study. Of them, 71 patients (24.7%) underwent BAE and 217 patients (75.3%) were treated conservatively. The clinical success rate of BAE was 98.6%, with a low minor complication rate of 5.6%. Bronchoscopy before treatments was performed in 237 patients (82.3%). Fifty-five patients (19.1%) experienced recurrent hemoptysis during a median follow-up period of 2.4years (interquartile range: 1.0-4.4years). Patients who showed active bleeding or blood clots on bronchoscopy had a significantly lower recurrence-free survival rate than patients with no bronchoscopic evidence of bleeding or blood clots (p=0.012). The risk factors affecting recurrence were heavy smoking (p=0.002, hazard ratio [HR]: 3.57), aspergillosis (p=0.035, HR: 6.01), and bronchoscopic findings of active bleeding (p=0.016, HR: 3.29) or blood clots (p=0.012, HR: 2.77).

CONCLUSIONS

The recurrence rate of hemoptysis was not negligible in patients with mild hemoptysis. BAE can be considered in patients with a high risk of recurrence.

Bronchial artery embolization in treatment of hemoptysis: Treatment efficacy and complications at a tertiary care chest centre

Background

Hemoptysis is one of the most alarming condition to both the patients suffering from it and the treating physicians. It is caused due to varied etiologies. One of the emergent and at times life-saving treatment option is by minimally invasive interventional radiological technique of Bronchial Atery Embolization (BAE). The authors aimed to carry out a retrospective analysis of short term efficacy and safety of all patients treated by this technique at a tertiary care thoracic centre.

Methods

A total of 52 patients were included in the study who had a median follow up of 35 days. All these patients were referred for hemoptysis, intractable hemoptysis not controlled by conservative management or massive hemoptysis. An analysis of the underlying etiology, immediate and short term outcomes and complications was made.

Results

The study showed Tuberculosis and its sequel (bronchiectasis and chronic fibrotic changes) as the commonest etiology (65%). The BAE showed high short term efficacy (92%) in stopping the hemoptysis with a relatively low complication rate especially of major complications such as spinal cord ischemia (1.9%). The study strengthens the limited Indian data available on the subject and based on its outcome, BAE should be tried in all patients presenting with uncontrollable or massive hemoptysis not getting relief by conservative management alone.

Conclusion

BAE is a very effective procedure with very less complications for management of massive or uncontrollable hemoptysis.