SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Med., 20 June 2024

Sec. Pulmonary Medicine

Volume 11 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1364994

Embolization coils in treating postoperative bronchopleural fistula: a systematic review

  • 1. Department of Endoscopy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

  • 2. Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

  • 3. Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China

Abstract

Objective:

This study aims to comprehensively evaluate embolization coils in treating postoperative bronchopleural fistula (BPF).

Methods:

A systematic review based on PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library studies was conducted. All cases receiving embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF were included. The primary outcome was the efficacy of embolization coils in achieving closure of postoperative BPF.

Results:

20 patients from 9 studies were included in this systematic review. A median number of 3 (range: 1–10) embolization coils with sealants obtained a complete closure rate of 80% in patients with postoperative BPF with sizes ranging from 2 to 3.1 mm. Three patients with BPF over 3 mm and one with multiple organ failure failed this treatment. Two cases of coil migration were reported without causing respiratory failure or fistula recurrence.

Conclusion:

Embolization coils might be considered a safe and effective bronchoscopic treatment for small postoperative BPF of less than 3 mm in size. More extensive and rigorous studies are needed to further evaluate and confirm the optimal use of embolization coils in the context of an alternative to surgical repair.

Introduction

Postoperative bronchopleural fistula (BPF) presents a significant challenge for both patients and physicians, with a prevalence ranging from 2.1 to 9.2% and a mortality rate between 16.4 and 71.2% (1). Postoperative BPF-related complications, such as infected pleural fluid regurgitation, severe pneumonia, and respiratory failure, contribute to the high mortality rate even after the standard surgical repair (1). Treating postoperative BPF remains a compelling challenge for thoracic surgeons and pulmonologists. Bronchoscopic treatments have emerged as complementary or adjuvant modalities in managing postoperative BPF (2). Sealants, embolization coils, and ventricular septal defect occluders have shown promise in cases where patients are unable or unwilling to undergo surgical repair, depending on the size and location of the BPF (3–5). Different embolization coils, originally designed for vessel occlusion, have demonstrated excellent efficacy with few complications in managing postoperative BPF since the 1990s (6). Typically made of platinum or other materials, these coils have proven to be cost-effective, easy-to-perform, and minimally invasive bronchoscopic treatment options for small postoperative BPF (6–14). This study aims to evaluate the most recent clinical studies using embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF. These details can further contribute to our understanding of the efficacy and potential benefits of using embolization coils as a treatment option alternative to surgical repair for this challenging condition.

Methods

Literature search strategy

The search strategy to identify original studies on treating postoperative BPF with embolization coils was executed using the keywords “bronchopleural fistula” OR “air leak” OR “alveolar-pleural fistula” AND “coil” OR “coils.” The search was conducted from July 1990 to December 2023 using PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library databases. Additionally, bibliographies were manually searched for relevant articles.

The inclusion criteria were studies reporting the management of postpneumonectomy or postlobectomy BPF with embolization coils. The exclusion criteria were studies not referencing embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF, reviews, conference abstracts, studies lacking necessary information, and studies written in languages other than English.

Data extraction

Two independent reviewers (X.J.L. and K.Z.) utilized a standardized data abstraction form to collect detailed information on each patient’s demographics, medical history, postoperative BPF features (location and size), embolization coil details (the brand, size, and number of coils inserted, the method of coil insertion, the sealants after coil insertion), and clinical outcomes in treating postoperative BPF with embolization coils. Treatment success refers to the complete closure of the postoperative BPF using embolization coils without any air leak via chest tube drainage. Treatment failure indicated partial or no closure of the BPF despite the use of embolization coils, even with additional coils, sealants, or both. Any disagreements between the two reviewers were resolved by consensus discussions.

Risk of bias in individual case reports

Some measures were implemented in this study to address potential biases inherent in individual case reports. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were clearly defined to reduce selection bias when including cases receiving embolization coils for the closure of postoperative BPF. The standardized data abstraction form was utilized by two independent reviewers to collect detailed information about each patient, minimizing bias and enhancing the reliability of data extraction. The disagreements in interpreting the data were resolved by consensus discussions, ensuring consistency and mitigating bias introduced by individual interpretations. The objective outcomes were evaluated by predetermined criteria, reducing subjective interpretation and potential bias in assessing the efficacy of the embolization coil.

Results

Study selection

The literature search strategy identified 97 studies, which were disregarded for the following reasons: duplicated cases (n = 30), records excluded by titles and abstracts (n = 52) studies not referencing postoperative BPF (n = 3), conference abstracts (n = 1), studies lacking necessary information (n = 1), and studies written in languages other than English (n = 2). Nine studies reporting the management of postoperative BPF with embolization coils were included in this systematic review (Figure 1) (6–14). Supplementary Table S1 contains all the data extracted from these studies, providing further insight into treating postoperative BPF with embolization coils.

Figure 1

Study characteristics

Table 1 summarizes the characteristics of the 20 patients for whom data were available from 9 studies. The median (range) age was 52 (33–80) years, and 64.3% of the population were male. The most prevalent cause for pneumonectomy or lobectomy was lung cancer (12/20, 60%), followed by tuberculosis-related lung diseases (3/20, 15%), other lung-related diseases (3/20, 15%) (such as sarcoidosis with massive hemoptysis, pulmonary sequestration, and breast cancer with lung metastasis), and cystic pulmonary hydatidosis (2/20, 10%). Postoperative BPF was found in the right upper lobe in 5 patients, the right lower lobe in 3 patients, the left upper lobe in 3 patients, the left lower lobe in 3 patients, the right main bronchus in 2 patients, the left main bronchus in 2 patients, and the bronchus intermedius in 2 patients, with a median size of 3.6 mm, ranging from 2 to 6 mm. In some cases, the initial attempts to close the postoperative BPF failed, including tube thoracostomy, surgical debridement, intercostal muscle flap, and other sealants such as fibrin glue and geofoam (Supplementary Table S1).

Table 1

n/NPercentage
Demographics
Age (years), median (range)52 (33–80)a
Male sex9/14b64.3%
Female sex5/14b35.7%
Underlying diseases
Lung cancer12/2060%
Tuberculosis3/2015%
Cystic pulmonary hydatidosis2/2010%
Others3/2015%
BPF location
Right upper lobe5/2025%
Right lower lobe3/2015%
Left upper lobe3/2015%
Left lower lobe3/2015%
Right main bronchus2/2010%
Left main bronchus2/2010%
Bronchus intermedius2/2010%
BPF size (mm), median (range)3.1 (2–6)c
Numbers of coils used (per patient), median (range)3 (1–10)d
Coil brands
Gianturco Stainless Steel Coils3/2015%
Boston Scientific Platinum Coils3/2015%
COOK Spring Embolization Coils13/2065%
TRUFILL Pushable Coils1/205%
Coil insertion methods
Endoscopic and fluoroscopic guidance3/2015%
Endoscopic guidance14/2070%
CT guidance (percutaneously)2/3010%
Fluoroscopic guidance1/205%
Sealants
Fibrin glue11/2055%
NBCA + Lipiodol4/2020%
NBCA3/2015%
Fibrin glue, NBCA + Lipiodol1/205%
Surgical cottons soaked in fibrin glue1/205%
Follow-up months, median (range)12 (1–24)e
Outcomes
Complete closure with coils initially16/2080%
Expectoration or dislodge of coils2/2010%
Recurrence of BPF0/160%
Death not related to coil insertion3/2015%

Characteristics of postoperative BPF receiving embolization coils in included cases.

a

Ages of 5 patients were not reported.

b

Genders of 6 patients were not reported.

c

BPF sizes of 13 patients were not reported.

d

Coil numbers of 10 patients were not reported.

e

Follow-up time of 5 patients were not reported.

BPF: bronchopleural fistula; NBCA: N-butly-2-cyanoacrylate; CT: computer tomography.

The median number of embolization coils inserted per patient was 3 (range: 1–10). There were four different types of commercially available embolization coils utilized in these studies: COOK Spring Medical Coils in 13 patients, Gianturco Stainless Steel Coils in 3, Boston Scientific Platinum Coils in 3, and TRUFILL Pushable Coils in 1. In the majority of these patients (13/20, 65%), embolization coils were inserted under bronchoscopic observation, followed by endoscopic and fluoroscopic surveillance (3/20, 15%), computer tomography guidance percutaneously (2/20, 10%), and fluoroscopic inspection (1/20, 5%). After the insertion of embolization coils, different sealants were used in all patients, including fibrin glue, N-butly-2-cyanoacrylate, lipiodol, and surgical cotton, either alone or in combination.

Efficacy and complications

The embolization coils with sealants achieved a complete closure rate of 80% (16/20) in patients with postoperative BPF, with sizes ranging from 2 to 3.1 mm (Table 1). In two cases, the subsequent insertion of longer coils attained complete closure following the initial attempt with short coils. Four cases with postoperative BPF had immediate closure after the insertion of embolization coils (Supplementary Table S1). Most of the studies did not report the closure time after coil insertion. The embolization coils failed in three patients with BPF sizes over 3 mm and one with multiple organ failure after the insertion of eight Gianturco Stainless Steel Coils into several distal bronchi (Supplementary Table S1, details). During a median follow-up period of 12 months (range, 1–24 months), there was no fistula recurrence in patients who achieved complete closure with the insertion of embolization coils. During the follow-up, one coil was expectorated out of the mouth without causing hypoxia, and another was dislodged into the thoracic cavity without causing fistula recurrence. Three patients passed away after the insertion of embolization coils, but not due to the procedure.

Discussion

Postoperative BPF is a rare but severe consequence of pneumonectomy or lobectomy characterized by the formation of a pathological connection between the bronchial stump and pleural cavity, resulting in persistent air leakage, empyema, respiratory failure, and a high mortality rate (15). Surgical repair or additional resection should be recommended for BPF closure if patients are willing and able to endure the reoperation (16). However, surgical procedures for postoperative BPF closure were occasionally associated with a low success rate and a high overall mortality rate (17). Bronchoscopic intervention has evolved to diagnose and treat postoperative BPF with sealants, embolization coils, and ventricular septal defect occluders, depending on the size and location of the fistula (3–5). Embolization coils are initially used for permanent vessel occlusion without inducing ischemia in downstream vessels when deployed properly and precisely (18). They have been applied in limited cases for postoperative BPF closure since the 1990s (6). As far as we know, no previous systematic review has reported using embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF. This systematic review evaluated the most recent clinical studies on embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF. We observed that embolization coils with sealants achieved a complete closure in patients (16/20, 80%) with postoperative BPF ranging in size from 2 to 3.1 mm but failed in three patients with BPF sizes more than 3 mm and one with multiple organ failure. Embolization coils carry an overall success rate comparable to surgical procedures in treating postoperative BPF with a size less than 3 mm (19, 20).

The insertion of embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF is a safe procedure, according to the complications observed in the available literature. These complications included coil migration and expectoration without causing respiratory failure due to its modest size (7, 8). In this systematic review, no deaths were related to the insertion of embolization coils. The BPF size might be a major predictor of the prognosis and complications of bronchoscopic intervention with embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF (21, 22). Large postoperative BPF was associated with treatment failure with embolization coils and expectoration of fibrin glue (23). Unfortunately, many studies included did not report information on BPF size. The thin-section computer tomography could determine the size of postoperative BPF (the narrowest part of the fistula tract), which could help in evaluating treatment strategies and the diameter of the medical device used to close the fistula (24). The diameter of the initial embolization coil inserted should be 10–20% larger, or at least 2 mm oversized, than the fistula tract being occluded to increase the success rate and decrease the migration rate.

In the studies included in this systematic review, four different commercially available brands of pushable embolization coils were employed, with COOK Spring Medical Coils being the most prevalent. The pushable Nester® Embolization Coils (Cook Medical) are made of platinum with spaced synthetic fibers, which can be delivered safely and effectively to the target location through the standard angiographic catheter with a flexible guide wire (25). Once delivered, it will form a tight occluding mass that anchors into the target location and occludes the vessel or fistula tract. Since the 1990s, embolization coils have been applied to treat postoperative BPF (6). The embolization coils generate a core for the occlusion of liquid sealants, thereby reducing the risk of cured sealant migration and fistula recurrence (6, 8, 12). As reported in porcine arteries, the synthetic fibers may cause local inflammation and promote the development of granulation tissue, thoroughly blocking postoperative BPF and probably reducing the number of coils required (26). The detachable coil was also used to successfully treat pneumonia-induced BPF in a two-year-old child (27). In managing postoperative BPF, the pushable Nester® Embolization Coils are more cost-effective than the detachable coils because they are significantly less expensive (28).

The literature described four monitoring strategies for the insertion of embolization coils into a fistula: fluoroscopic inspection, endoscopic and fluoroscopic surveillance, computer tomography guidance percutaneously, and bronchoscopic observation (the most prevalent) (6–14). The precise occlusion of the fistula in the distal bronchial stump was made possible by the angiography catheter-guided or directed insertion of embolization coils under bronchoscopic observation and/or fluoroscopic inspection (6–10, 12–14). With the computer tomography-guided transthoracic needle, embolization coils could be inserted transversally into the fistula tract, and cyanoacrylate glue could be injected into and adjacent to the fistula (11). Although there is no risk of pneumothorax with the percutaneous insertion of embolization coils under computer tomography guidance in patients with postoperative BPF, there is still a risk of hemorrhage. We prefer not to insert the embolization coils percutaneously under computer tomography guidance for postoperative BPF in patients tolerating bronchoscopy.

Several limitations in this systematic review must be acknowledged. The interpretation of the present findings was predominantly constrained by the small sample size and the heterogeneity of the case reports, which makes it difficult to reach a definitive conclusion. Studies demonstrating positive outcomes are more likely to be published, which could lead to an overestimation of the efficacy of embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF. The evidence-based data on how to treat postoperative BPF is still limited, consisting mainly of case reports and case series. Well-designed prospective studies, randomized controlled trials, or cohort studies with larger sample sizes and standardized methodologies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of embolization coils in treating postoperative BPF, especially with long-term follow-up data.

Conclusion

In conclusion, with a high success rate and low complication rate, embolization coils might offer a minimally invasive, cost-effective, and relatively easy-to-perform alternative to surgical repair for small postoperative BPF (less than 3 mm in size). Not all patients with postoperative BPF are appropriate candidates for coil embolization. The decision to apply this technique should be made on a case-by-case basis, considering factors such as the size and location of the fistula and the patient’s overall health status. Further studies are needed to evaluate their long-term efficacy and safety.

Statements

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Author contributions

XL: Data curation, Investigation, Writing – original draft. KZ: Data curation, Investigation, Writing – original draft. YB: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1364994/full#supplementary-material

References

  • 1.

    AsamuraHNarukeTTsuchiyaRGoyaTKondoHSuemasuK. Bronchopleural fistulas associated with lung cancer operations. Univariate and multivariate analysis of risk factors, management, and outcome. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. (1992) 104:145664. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5223(19)34643-4

  • 2.

    SakataKKReisenauerJSKernRMMullonJJ. Persistent air leak—review. Respir Med. (2018) 137:2138. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2018.03.017

  • 3.

    AbramianORosenheckJTaddeo-KolmanDBowenFBoujaoudeZAbouzgheibW. Therapeutic closure of bronchopleural fistulas using ethanol. Ther Adv Respir Dis. (2021) 15:175346662110444. doi: 10.1177/17534666211044411

  • 4.

    GuoSBaiYLiYChenT. A large central bronchopleural fistula closed by Bronchoscopic Administration of Recombinant Bovine Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor: a case report. Respiration. (2021) 100:10004. doi: 10.1159/000514717

  • 5.

    BaiYLiYChiJGuoS. Endobronchial closure of the bronchopleural fistula with the ventricular septal defect occluder: a case series. BMC Pulm Med. (2021) 21:313. doi: 10.1186/s12890-021-01676-3

  • 6.

    SalmonCJPonnRBWestcottJL. Endobronchial vascular occlusion coils for control of a large parenchymal bronchopleural fistula. Chest. (1990) 98:2334. doi: 10.1378/chest.98.1.233

  • 7.

    PonnRBD'AgostinoRSSternHWestcottJL. Treatment of peripheral bronchopleural fistulas with endobronchial occlusion coils. Ann Thorac Surg. (1993) 56:13437. doi: 10.1016/0003-4975(93)90679-C

  • 8.

    HirataTOgawaETakenakaKUwokawaRFujisawaI. Endobronchial closure of postoperative bronchopleural fistula using vascular occluding coils and n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate. Ann Thorac Surg. (2002) 74:21746. doi: 10.1016/S0003-4975(02)04170-X

  • 9.

    WatanabeSWatanabeTUrayamaH. Endobronchial occlusion method of bronchopleural fistula with metallic coils and glue. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. (2003) 51:1068. doi: 10.1055/s-2003-38981

  • 10.

    ShimizuJTakizawaMYachiTAranoYHiranoYWasedaRet al. Postoperative bronchial stump fistula responding well to occlusion with metallic coils and fibrin glue via a tracheostomy: a case report. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. (2005) 11:1048. PMID:

  • 11.

    ClemsonLAWalserEGillALynchJEZwischenbergerJB. Transthoracic closure of a postpneumonectomy bronchopleural fistula with coils and cyanoacrylate. Ann Thorac Surg. (2006) 82:19246. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2006.01.069

  • 12.

    SivrikozCMKayaTTulayCMAkIBilirADönerE. Effective approach for the treatment of bronchopleural fistula: application of endovascular metallic ring-shaped coil in combination with fibrin glue. Ann Thorac Surg. (2007) 83:2199201. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2007.01.005

  • 13.

    ParkJDBaeIHParkKSKimSJJeonMHHongJM. Fluoroscopy-guided treatment of a bronchopleural fistula with a platinum vascular occlusion coil and N-butly-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA): a case report. JKSR. (2009) 61:3758. doi: 10.3348/jksr.2009.61.6.375

  • 14.

    MarwahVKatochCDSKumarKPathakKBhattacharjeeSJindamwarP. Bronchoscopic device closure of postoperative bronchopleural fistulae: novel devices and innovative techniques. Lung India. (2020) 37:10713. doi: 10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_179_19

  • 15.

    SirbuHBuschTAleksicISchreinerWOsterODalichauH. Bronchopleural fistula in the surgery of non-small cell lung cancer: incidence, risk factors, and management. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. (2001) 7:3306. PMID:

  • 16.

    ShenKRBribriescoACrabtreeTDenlingerCEbyJEikenPet al. The American Association for Thoracic Surgery consensus guidelines for the management of empyema. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. (2017) 153:e12946. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2017.01.030

  • 17.

    YangYHParkSYKimHEParkBJLeeCYLeeJGet al. Postoperative bronchopleural fistula repair: surgical outcomes and adverse factors for its success. Thorac Cancer. (2022) 13:14015. doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.14404

  • 18.

    HuJAlbadawiHChongBWDeipolyiARShethRAKhademhosseiniAet al. Advances in biomaterials and Technologies for Vascular Embolization. Adv Mater. (2019) 31:e1901071. doi: 10.1002/adma.201901071

  • 19.

    PuskasJDMathisenDJGrilloHCWainJCWrightCDMoncureAC. Treatment strategies for bronchopleural fistula. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. (1995) 109:98996. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5223(95)70325-X

  • 20.

    MasseraFRobustelliniMPonaCDRossiGRizziARoccoG. Predictors of successful closure of open window thoracostomy for postpneumonectomy empyema. Ann Thorac Surg. (2006) 82:28892. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2005.11.046

  • 21.

    HollausPHLaxFJanakievDLucciariniPKatzEKreuzerAet al. Endoscopic treatment of postoperative bronchopleural fistula: experience with 45 cases. Ann Thorac Surg. (1998) 66:9237. doi: 10.1016/S0003-4975(98)00589-X

  • 22.

    CardilloGCarboneLCarleoFGalluccioGdi MartinoMGiuntiRet al. The rationale for treatment of Postresectional bronchopleural fistula: analysis of 52 patients. Ann Thorac Surg. (2015) 100:2517. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2015.03.014

  • 23.

    KatochCDChandranVMBhattacharyyaDBarthwalMS. Closure of bronchopleural fistula by interventional bronchoscopy using sealants and endobronchial devices. Med J Armed Forces India. (2013) 69:3269. doi: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2013.04.009

  • 24.

    WestcottJLVolpeJP. Peripheral bronchopleural fistula: CT evaluation in 20 patients with pneumonia, empyema, or postoperative air leak. Radiology. (1995) 196:17581. doi: 10.1148/radiology.196.1.7784563

  • 25.

    WhiteRIPollakJS. Controlled delivery of pushable fibered coils for large vessel embolotherapy. In: GJafarSShiliangJSMelhelm, editors. Vascular Embolotherapy: a comprehensive approach volume 1 general principles, chest, abdomen, and great vessels. New York City, United States: Springer (2006). 3542.

  • 26.

    TrerotolaSOPresslerGAPremanandanC. Nylon fibered versus non-fibered embolization coils: comparison in a swine model. J Vasc Interven Radiol. (2019) 30:94955. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2018.10.004

  • 27.

    BadenWHofbeckMWarmannSWSchaeferJFSieverdingL. Interventional closure of a bronchopleural fistula in a 2 year old child with detachable coils. BMC Pediatr. (2022) 22:250. doi: 10.1186/s12887-022-03298-y

  • 28.

    ParkSILeeSJLeeMLeeMSKimGMKimMDet al. Prospective randomized trial comparing pushable coil and detachable coil during percutaneous implantation of port-catheter system for hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy. Abdom Imaging. (2015) 40:595600. doi: 10.1007/s00261-014-0239-1

Summary

Keywords

bronchopleural fistula, embolization coil, bronchoscopic treatment, systematic review, interventional pulmonology

Citation

Luo X, Zhan K and Bai Y (2024) Embolization coils in treating postoperative bronchopleural fistula: a systematic review. Front. Med. 11:1364994. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1364994

Received

03 January 2024

Accepted

12 June 2024

Published

20 June 2024

Volume

11 - 2024

Edited by

Roberto Giovanni Carbone, University of Genoa, Italy

Reviewed by

Niranjan Babu Ananda Setty, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Australia

Marco Anile, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Yang Bai,

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Outline

Figures

Cite article

Copy to clipboard


Export citation file


Share article

Article metrics