BACKGROUND: Airway stenting is an established procedure for treating oncological emergencies in patients with airway disorders. In patients with airway hemorrhage, respiratory conditions may worsen during stenting. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is useful to prevent bleeding from the bronchus. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of airway stenting after BAE in patients with malignant airway disorders.
METHODS: The medical records of all patients who underwent airway stenting following BAE at the National Hospital Organization Okayama Medical Center between 2016 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed.
RESULTS: Thirteen procedures (11 silicone Y stents, one hybrid stent, and one self-expandable metallic stent) were performed. The median duration from BAE to airway stenting was one day (range: 1-5 days). Nine patients experienced tumor shrinkage, and none experienced severe bleeding after BAE during the stent procedure. No other major complications were associated with the stent placement. The median survival time after stenting was 169 days (range; 24-1086). No serious complications caused by BAE, such as spinal cord infarction, were observed.
CONCLUSIONS: Airway stent placement was safely performed after BAE without severe bleeding or acute respiratory failure. BAE, followed by airway stenting, is useful.

To explore the feasibility of a \"triple-low\" dose (low tube voltage, low tube current, and low contrast agent volume) bronchial artery computed tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) to replace routine dose bronchial artery CTA before bronchial artery embolisation (BAE).
CTA was obtained from 60 patients with body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2 using a 256 multi-section iCT system, and they were divided into two groups: (1) group A: 100 kVp, 100 mAs, 50 ml contrast medium (CM); (2) group B: 120 kVp, automatic tube current modulation (ACTM), 80 ml CM. CT attenuation of the thoracic aorta, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated, and subjective image quality scores and traceability scores assessed. The effective radiation dose was calculated.
The radiation dose was reduced by 79.7% in group A compared to group B (p<0.05). The CT attenuation of the thoracic aorta was increased by approximately 13% in group A compared to group B (p<0.05). Higher image noise, lower SNR, and CNR were obtained in group A compared to group B (all p<0.05). Both subjective image quality scores and traceability scores did not differ between groups A and B (both p>0.05).
It is feasible to use the \"triple-low\" dose CTA protocol for patients with a body mass index (BMI) < 30 kg/m2. The radiation dose was reduced by 79.7%, and the dose of contrast medium was reduced by 37.5% to ensure the diagnostic value.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment of hemoptysis caused by primary lung cancer.
METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective study (2005-2021), including patients who underwent thoracic embolization for life-threatening hemoptysis complication of lung cancer. Exclusion criteria were hemoptysis caused by a benign lung tumor or by a lung metastasis of a primary non-lung tumor. Depending on the origin of the bleeding, determined by CT-angiography, systemic arteries were treated with microspheres or coils, and pulmonary arteries with coils, plugs or covered stents. Outcomes were assessed from patients\' medical records in April 2022. Primary endpoints were clinical success at one month and at one year. Secondary endpoints were incidence of complications, 1 year overall survival, and relative risk of recurrence of hemoptysis. Survival was compared with a log-rank test.
RESULTS: Sixty-two patients underwent 68 systemic artery embolizations and 14 pulmonary artery procedures. Clinical success defined as cessation of hemoptysis without any recurrence was 81% at one month and 74% at one year. Three major complications occurred: spinal cord ischemia, stroke, and acute pancreatitis. 5% of patient died from hemoptysis. One-year overall survival was 29% and was significantly higher in patients without hemoptysis recurrence when compared to patients with recurring hemoptysis (p = 0.021). In univariate analysis, recurrence of hemoptysis at one year was associated with massive hemoptysis (RR = 2.50; p = 0.044) and with tumor cavitation (RR = 2.51; p = 0.033).
CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular treatment for primary lung cancer-related hemoptysis is effective but not uneventful.

SHIP-CT showed that 48-week treatment with inhaled 7% hypertonic saline (HS) reduced airway abnormalities on chest CT using the manual PRAGMA-CF method relative to isotonic saline (IS) in children aged 3-6 years with cystic fibrosis (CF). An algorithm was developed and validated to automatically measure bronchus and artery (BA) dimensions of BA-pairs on chest CT. Aim of the study was to assess the effect of HS on bronchial wall thickening and bronchial widening using the BA-analysis.
The BA-analysis (LungQ, version 2.1.0.1, Thirona, Netherlands) automatically segments the bronchial tree and identifies the segmental bronchi (G0) and distal generations (G1-G10). Dimensions of each BA-pair are measured: diameters of bronchial outer wall (Bout), bronchial inner wall (Bin), bronchial wall thickness (Bwt), and artery (A). BA-ratios are computed: Bout/A and Bin/A to detect bronchial widening and Bwt/A and Bwa/Boa (=bronchial wall area/bronchial outer area) to detect bronchial wall thickening.
113 baseline and 102 48-week scans of 115 SHIP-CT participants were analysed. LungQ measured at baseline and 48-weeks respectively 6,073 and 7,407 BA-pairs in the IS-group and 6,363 and 6,840 BA-pairs in the HS-group. At 48 weeks, Bwt/A (mean difference 0.011; 95%CI, 0.0017 to 0.020) and Bwa/Boa (mean difference 0.030; 95% 0.009 to 0.052) was significantly higher (worse) in the IS-group compared to the HS-group representing more severe bronchial wall thickening in the IS-group (p=0.025 and p=0.019 respectively). Bwt/A and Bwa/Boa decreased and Bin/A remained stable from baseline to 48 weeks in the HS while it declined in the IS-group (all p<0.001). There was no difference in progression of Bout/A between two treatment groups.
The automatic BA-analysis showed a positive impact of inhaled HS on bronchial lumen and wall thickness, but no treatment effect on progression of bronchial widening over 48 weeks.

BACKGROUND: The presence of systemic artery-pulmonary circulation shunt (SPS) during the bronchial arterial embolization (BAE) procedure, has been inferred to be a potential risk factor for recurrence. The aim of this study is to reveal the impact of SPS on the recurrence of noncancer-related hemoptysis after BAE.
METHODS: In this study, 134 patients with SPS (SPS-present group) and 192 patients without SPS (SPS-absent group) who underwent BAE for noncancer-related hemoptysis from January 2015 to December 2020 were compared. Four different Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to clarify the impact of SPSs on hemoptysis recurrence after BAE.
RESULTS: During the median follow-up time of 39.8 months, recurrence occurred in 75 (23.0%) patients, including 51 (38.1%) in the SPS-present group and 24 (12.5%) in the SPS-absent group. The 1-month, 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year hemoptysis-free survival rates in the SPS-present and SPS-absent groups were 91.8%, 79.7%, 70.6%, 62.3%, and 52.6% and 97.9%, 94.7%, 89.0%, 87.1%, and 82.3%, respectively (P < 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratios of SPSs in the four models were 3.37 [95% confidence intervals (CI), 2.07-5.47, P < 0.001 in model 1], 1.96 (95% CI, 1.11-3.49, P = 0.021 in model 2), 2.29 (95% CI, 1.34-3.92, P = 0.002 in model 3), and 2.39 (95% CI, 1.44-3.97, P = 0.001 in model 4).
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SPS during BAE increases the recurrence probability of noncancer-related hemoptysis after BAE.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the embolization of bronchial arteries and nonbronchial systemic arteries with n-butyl-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) in patients with hemoptysis.
METHODS: We analyzed a total of 55 consecutive patients with hemoptysis (14 mild, 31 moderate, and 10 massive) treated with the embolization of bronchial arteries and nonbronchial systemic arteries with n-butyl-cyanoacrylate between November 2013 and January 2020. The main variables analyzed were the rates of technical success, of clinical success, of recurrence, and of complications. Statistics included a descriptive analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curves.
RESULTS: Embolization was a technical success in 55 (100%) and a clinical success in 54 (98.2%). During follow-up (mean, 23.8 months; interquartile range, 9.7-38.2 months), hemoptysis recurred in 5 (9.3%) patients. The nonrecurrence rate was 91.9% one year after the initial procedure and 88.7% two years and four years after the initial procedure. Minor complications related with the procedure occurred in 6 (10.9%); no major complications occurred.
CONCLUSIONS: The embolization of bronchial arteries and nonbronchial systemic arteries with n-butyl-cyanoacrylate is safe and efficacious for controlling hemoptysis, resulting in low recurrence rates.

BACKGROUND: Nearly half of bronchiectasis patients receiving bronchial artery embolization (BAE) still have recurrent hemoptysis, which may be life-threatening. Worse still, the underlying risk factors of recurrence remain unknown.
METHODS: A retrospective cohort was conducted of patients with idiopathic bronchiectasis who received BAE from 2015 to 2019 at eight centers. Patients were followed up for at least 24 months post BAE. Based on the outcomes of recurrent hemoptysis and recurrent severe hemoptysis, a Cox regression model was used to identify risk factors for recurrence.
RESULTS: A total of 588 individuals were included. The median follow-up period was 34.0 months (interquartile range: 24.3-53.3 months). The 1-month, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year cumulative recurrent hemoptysis-free rates were 87.2%, 67.5%, 57.6%, and 49.4%, respectively. The following factors were relative to recurrent hemoptysis: 24-h sputum volume (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.99 [95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.25-3.15, p = 0.015]), isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (HR = 1.50 [95% CI: 1.13-2.00, p = 0.003]), extensive bronchiectasis (HR = 2.00 [95% CI: 1.29-3.09, p = 0.002]), and aberrant bronchial arteries (AbBAs) (HR = 1.45 [95% CI: 1.09-1.93, p = 0.014]). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the nomogram was 0.728 [95% CI: 0.688-0.769].
CONCLUSIONS: Isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important independent predictor of recurrent hemoptysis. The clearance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa might effectively reduce the hemoptysis recurrence rate.

BACKGROUND: Massive hemoptysis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment. This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the outcome of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for massive hemoptysis, as well as potential factors that may contribute to the recurrence of hemoptysis after BAE.
METHODS: A total of 105 patients with massive hemoptysis treated with BAE were analyzed.
RESULTS: The immediate control rate of bleeding was 84.8% (67/79); however, during the 36-month follow-up, 45.3% (29 out of 64) of the patients had recurrent hemoptysis after BAE. Comorbidities, pituitary hormone treatment, the angiographic appearance of artery dilation and hypertrophy, and the materials used for BAE were significantly correlated with the success rate of the BAE, while lack of pituitary hormone treatment and existence of arterio-arterial or arteriovenous fistula were risk factors for the recurrence of hemoptysis after BAE. Only a small proportion of patients (9/105, 8.6%) had mild complications after BAE treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that BAE continues to be an effective treatment for massive hemoptysis in emergency settings. Moreover, the treatment of underlying pulmonary diseases and comorbidities is important to increase BAE\'s success rate of BAE and decrease the risk of recurrent hemoptysis after BAE.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy and safety of bronchial arterial embolization (BACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEB) versus bronchial artery infusion (BAI) followed by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) particle embolization for the treatment of advanced squamous cell lung cancer after the failure of systemic therapy.
METHODS: Thirty-six patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer who underwent bronchial arterial interventional therapy were included in this retrospective study. The DEB group (n = 20) was treated with nedaplatin and DEB loaded with gemcitabine, and the PVA group (n = 16) BAI with nedaplatin and gemcitabine followed by embolization with PVA particles. The treatment efficacy and complications were analyzed.
RESULTS: The technical success rate was 100 %. The two groups were followed up for a median period of 8.9 months. The mean overall survival (OS) in the DEB group was 12.6 months (95 % CI:9.99-15.21), which was significantly longer than 8.14 months (95 % CI:6.07-10.2) in the PVA group (p = 0.007). The median progression-free survival (PFS) in the DEB group was 4.3 months (95 % CI:2.33-6.27), significantly longer than 3.2 months (95 % CI:2.55-3.85) in the PVA group (p = 0.030). The objective response rate (ORR) six months after the procedure was 50 % in the DEB group and 12.5 % in the PVA group. In the univariate and multivariate analyses, DEB-BACE was an independent prognostic factor for survival. Only grade 1 adverse events like fever, chest pain, and cough were seen.
CONCLUSIONS: DEB-BACE may be a good choice for patients with advanced lung squamous cell carcinoma, as it could prolong OS and PFS without increasing adverse events.

BACKGROUND: Hemoptysis is a severe complication of cystic fibrosis (CF) for which bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is an efficient primary therapeutic option. However, recurrence is more frequent than for other etiologies of hemoptysis.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of BAE in patients with CF and hemoptysis and predictive factors for recurrent hemoptysis.
METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed all adult patients with CF treated by BAE for hemoptysis in our center from 2004 to 2021. The primary endpoint was the recurrence of hemoptysis after bronchial artery embolization. Secondary endpoints were overall survival and complications. We introduced the vascular burden (VB) defined as the sum of all bronchial artery diameters measured on pre-procedural enhanced computed tomography (CT) scans.
RESULTS: A total of 48 BAE were performed in 31 patients. A total of 19 recurrences occurred with a median recurrence-free survival of 3.9 years. In univariate analyzes, percentage of unembolized VB (%UVB) (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.034, 95% confidence interval [CI=1.016-1.052; P < 0.001) and %UVB vascularizing the suspected bleeding lung (%UVB-lat) (HR = 1.024, 95% CI=1.012-1.037; P < 0.001) were associated with recurrence. In multivariate analyzes, only %UVB-lat remained significantly associated with recurrence (HR = 1.020, 95% CI=1.002-1.038; P = 0.030). One patient died during follow-up. No complication of grade 3 or higher was reported according to the CIRSE classification system for complications.
CONCLUSIONS: When possible, unilateral BAE seems sufficient in patients with CF with hemoptysis even in such a diffuse disease involving both lungs. The efficiency of BAE could be improved by thoroughly targeting all arteries vascularizing the bleeding lung.