Bronchial Artery Embolization for Life-Threatening Hemoptysis in COVID-19 Patients

Int J Angiol. 2022 May 19;33(4):307-314. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1745839. eCollection 2024 Dec.

Abstract

After the outbreak of the novel coronavirus at the end of December 2019 in China, it has become a global pandemic. Clinical manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a wide range of presentations from asymptomatic to severe multi-organ involvement. Hemoptysis appears to be one of the major manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome that is related to COVID-19 infection. The occurrence of hemoptysis is multifactorial. However, massive hemoptysis is usually related to pulmonary aspergillosis or severe bronchiectasis due to corticosteroid pulse therapy that can be life-threatening. This manuscript presents five cases of successful life-saving bronchial artery embolization in patients with COVID-19 infection who were suffering from massive hemoptysis that was mostly related to aspergillosis and bronchiectasis. These cases are followed by a review of the literature.

Keywords: SARS-Cov-2; angioembolization; bronchiectasis; embolization; hemoptysis; invasive pulmonary aspergillosis; polyvinyl alcohol.

Publication types

  • Case Reports