Erratic coil migration in the bronchus after bronchial artery embolization

Abstract

Herein, we report two cases of erratic coil migration from the bronchial artery to the bronchus after bronchial artery embolization (BAE). Neither patient exhibited haemoptysis recurrence, but chest radiographs revealed that part of the coil had disappeared. In Case 1, the patient coughed up the coil 4.5 years after BAE. We performed repeat BAE to minimize the possibility of haemoptysis considering bronchoscopic and angiographic findings. In Case 2, the patient had severe dry cough 2 years after BAE. Chest radiography showed migrated coils in the trachea; bronchoscopy revealed a migrated fragment of the coil protruding from the elevated mucosa. We used a loop cutter to split the coil and then removed it using forceps. Coil migration to the bronchus is an infrequent late‐stage complication of super‐selective bronchial artery coil embolization, and only one other case has been reported. Accordingly, we propose treatment strategies and speculate on the mechanism of fistula formation.

Keywords

• Bronchial artery embolization
• coil
• haemoptysis
• migration