2017 Volume 39 Issue 4 Pages 328-332
Background. Broncholithiasis is a rare disease, but it can cause massive hemoptysis requiring emergency treatment. Case. A 70-year-old man was being followed in a nearby hospital for broncholithiasis. He took antiplatelet medicine after suffering a cerebral infarction. On admission he reported that he had been coughing badly and continually for seven days, due to a common cold. One day before admission, he expectorated a stone and suffered hemoptysis. As the hemoptysis had not stopped, he was transferred to our hospital as an emergency patient. Chest CT revealed the loss of the broncholith and consolidation in the surrounding area, and CT-angiography revealed an enlarged and tortuous right bronchial artery toward the right lower lobe. The cause of the hemoptysis was considered to be bleeding due to the separation of the broncholith. The administration of antiplatelet medicine was stopped and a hemostatic agent was administered; however, the hemoptysis did not stop. On the 5th day of hospitalization, bronchial artery embolization was performed under mechanical to stabilize his breathing. After embolization, the patient's hemoptysis immediately disappeared. On the 7th day of hospitalization, he was extubated. He started to take antiplatelet medicine on the 19th day of hospitalization; however, there was no recurrence of hemoptysis. He was discharged on the 26th day of hospitalization. Conclusion. Bronchial artery embolization is useful for treating massive hemoptysis due to broncholithiasis.
