Fatal hemoptysis after bronchoscopic biopsy in a dog

Abstract

An 8‐year‐old 24.6 kg mixed breed dog underwent bronchoscopy for evaluation of a persistent progressive cough. Bronchoscopy documented a markedly thick and irregular, cobblestone appearance of the mucosa. A bronchoscopic biopsy was obtained; immediately after the biopsy, a large amount of hemorrhage poured from the endotracheal tube. Multiple efforts to control the hemorrhage were unsuccessful and the dog suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest and could not be revived. A necropsy was performed, which was significant for pallor, evidence of prior heartworm disease, prominent bronchial arteries, and erosion of the submucosal vessels at the site of the biopsy. The cause of death was hemorrhage associated with transbronchial biopsy of an enlarged bronchial artery associated with heartworm disease. This report describes a rare complication of a routine diagnostic procedure.

Bronhoskopija i bronhoalveolarna lavaža u pasa i mačaka

“…In addition, the samples are very small and are often damaged or crushed, making this the least commonly performed technique for diagnostic sampling during bronchoscopy. Brushing is a diagnostic procedure for collection cells and/or bacteria adherent to the mucosa (Greenway et al, 2019). This is performed with special endoscopic brushes that are passed through the working channel of the bronchoscope, pulled out of the plastic sheath, pushed very gently over the mucous membrane and then pulled out of the working channel again covered with the plastic sheath.…”