Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding caused by esophageal right bronchial artery fistula:A case report

BACKGROUND Fistula between the esophagus and bronchial artery is an extremely rare and potentially life-threatening cause of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding.Here,we report a case of fistula formation between the esophagus and a nonaneurysmal right bronchial artery(RBA).CASE SUMMARY An 80-year-old woman with previous left pneumonectomy and recent placement of an uncovered self-expandable metallic stent for esophageal adenocarcinoma was admitted due to hematemesis.Emergent computed tomography showed indirect signs of fistulization between the esophagus and a nonaneurysmal RBA,in the absence of active bleeding.Endoscopy revealed the esophageal stent correctly placed and a moderate amount of red blood within the stomach,in the absence of active bleeding or tumor ingrowth/overgrowth.After prompt multidisciplinary evaluation,a step-up approach was planned.The bleeding was successfully controlled by esophageal restenting followed by RBA embolization.No signs of rebleeding were observed and the patient was discharged home with stable hemoglobin level on postoperative day 7.CONCLUSION This was a previously unreported case of an esophageal RBA fistula successfully managed by esophageal restenting followed by RBA embolization.

BRONCHIAL ARTERY CHEMOTHERAPY FOR INOPERABLE NON-SMALL-CELL LUNG CANCER

We applied low-dose cisplatin regimen delivered by an interventional method to twenty-one consecutively treated patients with inoperable NSCLC.The regimen consisted of cisplatin 50 mg/m2, mitomycin C 10 mg/m2,and 5-Fu 500 mg/m2.All patients had positive response to the treatment.The overall response rate was 76.2%(CR:23.8%,PR:52.4%).The median survival was 25.5±3.2 weeks,which was similar to those obtained by other combination chemotherapies,but the toxicity was significantly reduced. The results suggested that bronchial artery chemotherapy would give the patients with advanced NSCLC a satisfactory early results and a higher quality of life.It is advisable to select bronchial artery chemotherapy as a preoperative treatment for advanced NSCLC.

Bronchial Artery Embolization for Hemoptysis： A Retrospective Observational Study of 344 Patients

Background：Hemoptysis is a significant clinical entity with high morbidity and potential mortality.Both medical management （in terms of resuscitation and bronchoscopic interventions） and surgery have severe limitations in these patients population.Bronchial artery embolization （BAE） represents the first-line treatment for hemoptysis.This article discusses clinical analysis,embolization approach,outcomes and complications of BAE for the treatment of hemoptysis.Methods：A retrospective analysis of 344 cases,who underwent bronchial arteriography at Tianjin Haihe Hospital between 2006 and 2013.Several aspects of outcome were analyzed：Demographics,clinical presentation,radiographic studies,results,complications and follow-up of BAE.Results：Three hundred and forty-four consecutive patients underwent bronchial arteriography,336 of 344 patients （97.7%） performed BAE; there were 1530 coils for 920 arteries embolized; the main responsible sources for bleeding were right bronchial artery （29.7%）,left bronchial artery （21.6%）,combined right and left bronchial trunk （18.4%）,right intercostal arteries （13.3%）; 61 patients （17.7%） had recurrent hemoptysis within 1 month after undergoing BAE,74 patients （21.5%） had recurrent hemoptysis over 1 month after undergoing BAE; The common complications of BAE included subintimal dissection,arterial perforation by a guide wire,fever,chest pain,dyspnea,etc.The follow-up was completed in 248 patients,28 patients had been dead,21 patients still bleed,92 patients had lost to follow-up.Conclusions：The technique of BAE is a relatively safe and effective method for controlling hemoptysis.The complications of BAE are rare.Although the long-term outcome in some patients is not good,BAE may be the only life-saving treatment option in patients who are poor surgical candidates.

LONG TERM RESULTS OF BRONCHIAL ARTERIAL INFUSION WITHCHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENTS PLUS RADIATION THERAPYIN THE TERATMENT OF LOCALLY ADVANCEDNON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of the bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) plus radiation therapy (RT) for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: 79 patients with locally advanced NSCLC were divided randomly into two groups. In the RT group, the radiation was given by 8Mv X-ray or 18Mv X-ray with 2Gy/fraction, 5 fraction per week with a total dose of 60Gy～65Gy/6～7 weeks. In the BAI+RT group, the radiation was given as RT group. Bronchial arterial infusion was performed before RT. The regimen consisted of DDP 100 mg/m2, MMC 10 mg, and 5-Fu 1000 mg. Each patient received two or three cycles. Results: The overall response rates were 80.5% in BAI+RT group and 50% in RT group. The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates in the BAI+RT group were significantly improved when compared to the RT group, being 87.8% vs 36.8%, 39.0% vs 7.9%, and 17.1% vs 2.6% respectively. The median time of radiation treatment to recurrence of primary lesion was 11 months in the BAI+RT group and 5 months in the RT group (P<0.05). The acute reactions were increased but acceptable in BAI+RT group, and the radiation treatments were able to be completed without any break. The late reactions were similar in both groups. Conclusion: The survival rates of patients with locally advanced NSCLC can be improved by BAI+RT without increasing any complication.

Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding:A stitch on time saves nine

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is common and often needs timely intervention for optimal outcomes.Esophageal bleeding may occur due to local advancement of malignancy or bleeding from an arterio-oesophageal fistula.We discuss the management options available for such cases.

The efficacy of empiric arterial embolization for treating severe hemoptysis

Aim: Purpose of the study was to investigate the efficacy of empiric arterial embolization in order to achieve hemostasis in patients with massive hemoptysis. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of histories and interventional studies of 56 patients (40 male, 16 female, median age 57 years;range, 16 - 83 years) referred for endovascular treatment of massive hemoptysis over a period of 17 years. Arteries supposed to supply the bleeding bronchoalveolar sections were embolized with particles in all cases. Digital subtraction angiographical (DSA) studies were analyzed with respect to the morphology of the embolized arteries. Arteries were termed pathologic when they were either hypertrophic or supplied hypervascular lung sections as well as actively bleeding branches. Empiric embolization was defined as endovascular occlusion of arteries without visible contrast-material extravasation on DSA studies. Results: Continuing hemoptysis was encountered in one (25%) of 4 patients with active contrast extravasation and in 11 (21%) of 52 empirically embolized patients: Six (19%) of 32 patients with pathologic arteries visible on aortography, 3 (18%) of 17 with pathologic arteries visible by selective arteriography and 2 (67%) of 3 with no visible pathologic arteries. From 6 patients (11%, 5 male, 1 female) who died within 30 days after embolization, 3 suffered from tuberculosis while 3 had malignant tumors. Three had ongoing hemoptysis. One patient died of multiple organ failure caused by post-interventional paraplegia and consecutive pneumonia. Conclusion: In patients with hemoptysis, empirical embolization is effective when pathologic bronchial arteries can be identified by DSA.

Clinical significance of interventional therapeutic bronchoscopy combined with bronchial arterial embolization in the treatment of hypervascular primary airway tumors in children

Importance Pediatric hypervascular primary airway tumors are progressive,fatal lesions with a low incidence,and the disease is often more serious than that in adults.Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of interventional therapeutic bronchoscopy combined with conservative treatment and bronchial arterial embolization in children with primary airway tumors.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of four pediatric patients with hypervascular primary airway tumor between 2017 and 2019 at Beijing Children’s Hospital.Results Two patients were low-grade bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma,one patient was pleomorphic adenoma,and one was bronchial leiomyoma.Interventional therapeutic bronchoscopy combined with bronchial arterial embolization was used for treatment(all four patients received general anesthesia).The tumors were safely resected in all patients via interventional bronchoscopy.There were no severe complications related to the procedures.All patients were followed up for 5–12 months,and one low-grade bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma recurred.Interpretation Interventional therapeutic bronchoscopy combined with bronchial arterial embolization appears to be a safe and efficient therapeutic method associated with less trauma and fewer complications,including no serious adverse events,in children with hypervascular primary airway tumors without bronchus wall infiltration.

Clinical Study on Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer by Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined with Bronchial Arterial Chemotherapy

To study the therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) combined with bronchial arterial chemotherapy (BAC) in treating lung cancer.Methods: Ninety patients with mid-advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomly divided into two groups. The 45 cases in Group A were treated with CHM combined with BAC and the 45 cases in Group B treated with BAC alone. The short-term and long-term effect, follow-up survival rate, quality of life, changes of clinical symptoms and peripheral blood figures in the patients were observed.Results: After treatment, the rate of CR+PR+NC in the two groups was 88.89% and 68.89% respectively, the inter-group comparison showed a significant difference (P<0.05). The 0.5-, 1- and 2-year survival rate in Group A was 75.56%, 55.56% and 48.89% respectively and in Group B 71.11%, 46.67% and 24.44% respectively. The 2-year survival rate in the former was better than that in the latter (P<0.05). Moreover, the improvement of clinical symptoms, Karnofsky scoring, body weight and peripheral blood figure in Group A was superior to those in Group B.Conclusion: Therapeutic effect of BAC could be enhanced by combining it with CHM.