Effectiveness of Embolization for Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations from Distal of the Last Normal Branch of the Pulmonary Artery.

Purpose: This retrospective study of patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations aims to assess the efficacy of embolization distal to the origin of the last normal branch of the pulmonary artery.

Material and methods: A total of 30 consecutive patients with 38 untreated pulmonary arteriovenous malformations underwent coil embolization distal to the origin of the last normal branch of the pulmonary artery between September 2015 and October 2021. The median (interquartile range) age of patients (5 males, 25 females) was 59 years (50-68 years old), and the median (interquartile range) sizes of the feeding artery and sac were 2.9 mm (2.3-3.8 mm) and 6.7 mm (5.4-9.7 mm), respectively. The technical success rate, persistence rate, and treatment-related complications were evaluated. Technical success was defined as the inability to identify the draining vein on feeding arteriography after coil embolization. Persistence was assessed using time-resolved magnetic resonance angiography.

Results: Coil embolization was successful in all patients (100%). There was no persistence during a median (interquartile range) follow-up period of 23 months (10-45 months) for the 38 pulmonary arteriovenous malformations embolized with coils. No major complications were reported. Only minor complications following embolization occurred in 4 of 36 sessions, including local pain in 2 sessions (6%) and hemosputum in 2 sessions (6%).

Conclusions: Embolization distal to the origin of the last normal branch of the pulmonary artery is effective in preventing the persistence of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations.