Abstract
We report 2 cases in which transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was successful in treating blunt thoracic trauma. Case 1: A 23-year-old man was found by chest computed tomography (CT) to have multiple rib fractures and lung hematoma. Hemorrhage from a chest tube was estimated at more than 1000ml. We immediately conducted bronchial and intercostal angiography and found stains suggesting hemorrhage. We conducted TAE for these arteries, successfully controlling hemorrhage. Ensuing surgery confirmed the success of TAE. Case 2: A 58-year-old man was found by chest CT to have multiple rib fractures and lung hematoma. Hemorrhage from an endotracheal tube was estimated at more than 100ml/hr. Bronchial angiography showed stains suggesting hemorrhage. TAE of the bronchial artery enabled hemorrhage from the tracheal tube to be controlled. Both cases showed TAE to be successful in avoiding lung resection and thus useful in blunt thoracic trauma treatment.
