Transvenous retrograde thoracic duct embolization for effective treatment of recurrent plastic bronchitis after fontan palliation

Abstract

We report the case of a 5.5-year-old patient (16 kg/105 cm) who presented with plastic bronchitis (PB) refractory to conservative treatment 3 months after completion of Fontan palliation. Bi-inguinal transnodal fluoroscopy-guided lymphangiogram confirmed the chylous leak originating from the thoracic duct (TD) into the chest and did not opacify any central lymphatic vessel for direct transabdominal puncture. Retrograde transfemoral approach was adopted to catheterize the TD and selectively embolize its caudal portion using microcoils and liquid embolic adhesive. Recurrence of symptoms after 2 months indicated a redo catheterization to occlude the TD entirely using the same technique. The procedure was successful and the patient was discharged after 2 days with sustained clinical improvement at 24 months postoperative. In the context of refractory PB, end-to-end transvenous retrograde embolization of the TD appears to be an interesting alternative to more complex interventions such as transabdominal puncture, decompression, or surgical ligation of the TD.