3 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH A NEW BALLOON CATHETER FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF HEMOPTYSIS

For the management of severe haemoptysis we have developed a double-lu men, bronchus-blocking catheter that can be introduced through the wor king channel of a standard fibrebronchoscope. We wondered whether this catheter would be suitable to control pulmonary haemorrhage in clinic al practice. Over a period of 36 months, 30 of these catheters were us ed in 27 patients with moderate and massive pulmonary bleeding from va rious lesions. Underlying diseases were: malignancies (11), vascular d eformities (5), tuberculosis (4), silicosis (2), carcinoids (2), silic osis (2), endometriosis (1), bronchiectasis (1). In 26 cases, the tran sbronchoscopic balloon tamponade was successful. In one patient, tumou r growth close to the carina prevented securing of the balloon and dou ble-lumen tube intubation was required. There were only minor complica tions attributable to the balloon. With the catheter in place for up t o seven days, patients underwent surgery, received radiation, chemothe rapy, drug treatment or bronchial arterial embolization. In conclusion , we found this double-lumen, bronchus-blocking device safe and the te chnique practicable to control pulmonary haemorrhage.