Segmental arterial ligation under video-assisted thoracoscopy combined with transcatheter embolotherapy for multiple bilateral pulmonary arteriovenous malformations

Multiple bilateral pulmonary arterio-venous malformations (PAVM) were diagnosed in a 15-year-old girl with erythrocytosis. Although transcatheter embolotherapy is generally accepted as a treatment of PAVM, the largest lesion in the right lower lobe was fed by a 13-mm diameter feeding artery without downstream narrowing, which was unsafe for the embolization of coils or balloons. Instead, we surgically ligated the largest feeding artery under video-assisted thoracoscopy, without losing any lung parenchyma. The other PAVM were successfully treated by embolization of metallic coils. The arterial partial pressure of oxygen (O(2)) increased from 37 to 64mmHg on room air, and from 46 to 410mmHg on 100% O(2).