Three years experience with a new balloon catheter for the management of haemoptysis

For the management of severe haemoptysis we have developed a double-lumen, bronchus-blocking catheter that can be introduced through the working channel of a standard fibrebronchoscope. We wondered whether this catheter would be suitable to control pulmonary haemorrhage in clinical practice. Over a period of 36 months, 30 of these catheters were used in 27 patients with moderate and massive pulmonary bleeding from various lesions. Underlying diseases were: malignancies (11), vascular deformities (5), tuberculosis (4), silicosis (2), carcinoids (2), silicosis (2), endometriosis (1), bronchiectasis (1). In 26 cases, the transbronchoscopic balloon tamponade was successful. In one patient, tumour growth close to the carina prevented securing of the balloon and double-lumen tube intubation was required. There were only minor complications attributable to the balloon. With the catheter in place for up to seven days, patients underwent surgery, received radiation, chemotherapy, drug treatment or bronchial arterial embolization. In conclusion, we found this double-lumen, bronchus-blocking device safe and the technique practicable to control pulmonary haemorrhage.