Bleeding Complications After Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction Coil Treatment: A Retrospective Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Endoscopic lung volume reduction coil (LVRC) treatment is an option for selected patients with severe emphysema. This study was conducted to determine the incidence of bleeding complications after LVRC treatment, to identify risk factors and to discuss treatment options in case of hemoptysis which does not resolve spontaneously.

Methods: Retrospective observational study conducted in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in all subjects in whom LVRC treatment was performed between April 1, 2012 and September 30, 2015.

Results: During the study period, 101 LVRC procedures were performed in 62 subjects. Early post-procedural bleeding was encountered in 65.3% of cases. Hemoptysis was significantly more likely to occur in patients receiving acetylsalicylic acid (P=.005). Hemoptysis resolved spontaneously in 98.5% of cases. In the one case (1.5%) with persistent hemoptysis, bronchial artery embolization was successful in terminating bleeding. Hospital stay was significantly prolonged in subjects with hemoptysis (P=.01). No significant differences were found between subjects with or without hemoptysis in terms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations within four weeks after LVRC treatment (P=.18). Late bleeding complications were observed in 3 subjects (3.0%). In 2 of these cases, bronchial artery embolization was performed and bleeding was successfully terminated.

Conclusions: Self-limiting low volume bleeding is a common finding in the first days after LVRC treatment. However, persistent bleeding may occur in the early post-procedural phase and late after LVRC treatment. In these cases, bronchial artery embolization was a feasible and successful approach to terminating bleeding.

Keywords: Emphysema; Endoscopic lung volume reduction; Endoscopic lung volume reduction coil; Enfisema; Interventional pulmonology; Neumología intervencionista; Reducción endoscópica del volumen pulmonar; Reducción endoscópica del volumen pulmonar con espiral.