Microcatheter placement through a side hole created in a 5-F catheter into proximal subclavian arterial branches causing hemoptysis.

Five patients with moderate to massive hemoptysis who had a bronchial artery of anomalous origin or a nonbronchial systemic artery originating from the proximal subclavian artery underwent microcatheter placement through a created side hole of a 5-F catheter. All patients had pulmonary tuberculosis and had undergone bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis. The side holes were made in the lesser (n = 2) or greater curvature sides (n = 3) of 5-F nonbraided Headhunter catheters. A microcatheter was passed through the side hole of the 5-F catheter into the target artery for embolization. Polyvinyl alcohol particles were used as the embolic material. The technical success rate was 100%, and immediate control of hemoptysis was achieved in all patients without complication.