[Massive hemoptysis after lobectomy for bronchiectasis]

A 67-years-old female, who was suffered from hemoptysis for about 50 years and was diagnosed as bronchiectasis of left lower lobe, was admitted to our hospital to receive elective surgical treatment. Left lower lobectomy was performed, and on the 10th postoperative day, massive hemoptysis occurred and intratracheal hemorrhage caused occlusion of the respiratory tract. Selective bronchial arteriogram revealed that bronchial artery of the left upper lobe developed remarkably, compared with the findings 1 year ago, and the bleeding site was located in the left upper lobe, which seemed to be almost normal before the operation. After embolization of this artery the hemoptysis stopped. If bronchial artery, which develop well and distribute to the bleeding lobe of the lung, have branches to adjacent another lobe, change of blood stream of bronchial artery by operation may cause early postoperative recurrence of hemoptysis.