Korean J Radiol.  2009 Feb;10(1):97-99. 10.3348/kjr.2009.10.1.97.

Renal and Splenic Micro-Infarctions Following Bronchial Artery Embolization with Tris-Acryl Microspheres

• Ma KF
• Wong WH
• Lui CY
• Cheng LF

• KMID: 1088686
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2009.10.1.97

Abstract

A bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is an important therapeutic method used to control acute and chronic hemoptysis. We report a case of multiple micro-infarcts involving both the kidneys and spleen, following a BAE with 500-700 micrometer crossed-linked tris-acryl microspheres (Embospheres) in a patient with bronchial artery pulmonary vein shunts. The superior penetration characteristics of the microspheres may have resulted in the greater tendency to cross the bronchial artery pulmonary vein shunts, which subsequently caused the systemic infarcts in our patient. We propose the use of larger sized microspheres (700-900 micrometer), which may aid in avoiding this complication.

Keyword

Interventional procdures, complications; Bronchial artery embolization; Microspheres

MeSH Terms

Acrylic Resins/*adverse effects/therapeutic use
Adult
*Bronchial Arteries
Embolization, Therapeutic/*adverse effects
Female
Gelatin/*adverse effects/therapeutic use
Hemoptysis/therapy
Humans
Infarction/*etiology/radiography
Kidney/*blood supply
Splenic Infarction/*etiology/radiography

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Renal and splenic infarctions after bronchial artery embolization in 28-year-old female. A. Left bronchial arteriogram demonstrating hypertrophied arteries in lower lobe of left lung with arterio-venous shunt (arrow). B. Contrast CT abdomen showing bilateral renal and splenic micro-infarctions as multifocal hypodense non-enhanced areas.

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