Percutaneous Bronchial Embolization to Treat Intractable Bronchobiliary Fistula

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2019 May;42(5):784-786. doi: 10.1007/s00270-019-02166-0. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Abstract

Sixty-four-year-old female who underwent hemi-hepatectomy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma a year ago presented with biliary sputum, cough and fever. Cross-sectional imaging showed a recurred tumor involving right diaphragmatic area and an abscess formation in liver dome with adjacent right lower lobe of lung. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage and percutaneous drainage of lung abscess were performed. Tubogram showed connections between the lung abscess cavity and multiple distal bronchi, suggesting bronchobiliary fistulas. Two weeks of drainage treatment did not relieve symptoms. We successfully treated intractable bronchobiliary fistula via image-guided percutaneous access to closest distal bronchi near abscess with subsequent tandem placement of vascular plugs.

Keywords: Bronchial embolization; Bronchobiliary fistula; Vascular plug.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / diagnostic imaging
  • Biliary Fistula / complications
  • Biliary Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Biliary Fistula / therapy*
  • Bronchi / diagnostic imaging
  • Bronchial Fistula / complications
  • Bronchial Fistula / diagnostic imaging
  • Bronchial Fistula / therapy*
  • Drainage
  • Embolization, Therapeutic / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Abscess / complications
  • Lung Abscess / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Abscess / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome