Endovascular management of hemoptysis in a known case of tetralogy of fallot and tuberculosis complicated with aspergilloma: a case report

Background Hemoptysis is a life-threatening complication due to bleeding either from hypertrophied bronchial arteries or enlarged non-bronchial systemic collaterals, having multiple etiologies. Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is a minimally invasive modality of management that can effectively manage moderate-to-severe hemoptysis. Case presentation We report the case of a 25-year-old female with moderate-to-severe hemoptysis. There was prior history of tuberculosis and treatment with anti-tubercular therapy 6 months back. There was also a background of tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) with symptoms of chronic breathlessness and palpitations. Imaging evaluation with X-ray and HRCT thorax revealed a cavity in the left upper lobe with dependent soft tissue, implying a diagnosis of aspergilloma in an old tubercular cavity. TOF and right-sided aortic arch were noted. CT bronchial angiography showed dilated and tortuous left bronchial artery, as well as non-bronchial systemic collaterals from the ipsilateral internal mammary artery. Endovascular management was achieved by super-selective catheterization and embolization of the involved branch of the left bronchial artery and selective embolization of non-bronchial systemic collaterals from the ipsilateral internal mammary artery. Conclusions BAE has a high clinical success rate and is recommended as first-line therapy in the management of massive hemoptysis. The CT pulmonary angiography, as well as the pre-embolization angiogram, is very important to detect the source of hemoptysis from the non-bronchial systemic circulation, increasing the success rate and decreasing the incidence of recurrence. BAE is effective even in presence of underlying vascular anomalies such as Fallot of Tetralogy.