Potentially life-threatening emergency
Bronchovascular fistula
Alerts and Notices
Synopsis
Intermittent hemoptysis is often the first symptom, followed by an acute-onset massive hemoptysis that can lead to hypovolemia and death.
Dieulafoy disease of the lung, a rare condition associated with vascular irregularities that are more susceptible to bleeding and hemorrhage, may also cause hemoptysis and bronchovascular fistula in patients without a history of lung interventions.
Bleeding bronchovascular fistulae require immediate surgical evaluation.
Codes
ICD10CM:T86.818 – Other complications of lung transplant
SNOMEDCT:
233791001 – Bronchial fistula
Look For
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Diagnostic Pearls
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Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Arteriovenous malformation
- Aortobronchial fistula
- Pulmonary embolism
- Tuberculosis
- Aspergillosis
- Vasculitis / collagen vascular disease
- Bleeding disorder (eg, von Willebrand disease, hemophilia, platelet disorders)
- Malignancy (particularly lung, oropharyngeal, metastasis to lung)
- Mitral stenosis
- Drug-induced hemoptysis (cocaine, NSAIDs, bevacizumab, sildenafil)
Best Tests
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Management Pearls
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Therapy
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References
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Last Reviewed:11/04/2019
Last Updated:11/04/2019
Last Updated:11/04/2019