Bronchial Occlusion with Endobronchial Watanabe Spigot for Hemoptysis in a Mechanically Ventilated Patient with Extracorporeal Circulation

Abstract

Bronchial occlusion with endobronchial Watanabe spigots (EWSs) can be an essential therapeutic measure for treating massive hemoptysis in intensive care patients when no other conventional options are available. A 68-year-old-man on mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal circulation after cardiovascular surgery presented massive hemoptysis. He was deemed unfit for bronchial artery embolization (BAE) and surgery while in the intensive care setting; thus, bronchial occlusion was performed using EWSs. His hemoptysis ceased, and he was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal circulation. Bronchial occlusion by EWSs may be considered an optimal, and at times, definitive treatment for obtaining hemostasis in these situations.