The effect of transcatheter bronchial artery embolization in five patients with bronchial artery aneurysm

Introduction
Due to its rarity and the lack of animal models for this disease, the etiology of bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is poorly understood.

Aim
To investigate the effect of transcatheter artery embolization (TAE) with coils, spherical polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and gel foam in patients with BAA.

Material and methods
From June 2015 to November 2018, 5 patients diagnosed with BAA with massive hemoptysis after undergoing bronchial arteriography and receiving TAE therapy in the Department of Interventional Radiology were enrolled in this study. Post-embolization angiography was used to demonstrate total occlusion of the BAAs and bronchiectatic engorged vessels. The patients’ follow-up was conducted 1–16 months after TAE.

Results
All 5 patients were cured by the TAE treatment, during which PVA, coils, and gel foam were applied. The patients also received successful TAE via a microcatheter. Hemoptysis disappeared in all patients. No special or severe complications occurred, and no patient experienced a recurrence during the follow-up.

Conclusions
Overall, TAE is the best choice for patients with hemoptysis and BAA due to its effectivity and reliability. Thorough and complete embolization of the bleeding arteries is the key to successful treatment. Though PVA and coils are the most common materials for embolization, gel foam strips can also be applied.