Transcatheter embolization of pulmonary artery catheter induced pseudoaneurysms

Purpose: To determine the outcome of patients with pulmonary artery catheter induced pseudoaneurysms (PSA) treated with transcatheter embolotherapy. Methods: Six patients underwent elective transcatheter embolization of PSA due to pulmonary artery catheters between November 1990 and November 1995. All patients had hemoptysis as the presenting symptom. All patients underwent selective pulmonary artery angiography and embolization. Retrospective analysis of recurrent hemoptysis, complications of the procedure and survival period was performed for all patients. Results: Technical success was achieved in all patients. Follow-up periods ranged from one day to 55 months. No patient had recurrent hemoptysis, and four patients were discharged from the hospital with a mean survival period of 20 months. Two patients had complications related to the procedure, neither of which had long-term sequelae. Conclusions: Embolization is a potentially safe and efficacious therapy for pulmonary catheter induced pulmonary artery PSA. Clinical implications: Embolotherapy offers an alternative to surgical therapy for pulmonary artery catheter induced PSA.