[Vaso-occlusion of the pulmonary artery]

Vaso-occlusion of the pulmonary artery is an angiographic technique which involves the voluntary and precise obstruction, temporary or permanent, performed at the end of diagnostic studies or therapeutic studies on one or several branches of the pulmonary artery. The diagnostic indications are touched on briefly at the end of this review because they are older and better known than the therapeutic indications. The latter has developed in less than 10 years and concerns first and foremost two pathologies: hemoptysis and arterio-venous aneurysms of the lung. The erosive pseudo-aneurysm of the pulmonary artery complicating parenchymatous necrosis above all of infections or tumours should be sought in certain situations and treated by vascular occlusion. The pulmonary arteriovenous aneurysms may equally be treated by selective obstruction of their afferent pedicles by metal spirals or detachable balls. This technique, in sacrificing the minimum of pulmonary parenchyma, should be considered according to each case as a possible supplement or replacement for surgery.