Bronchial occlusion with Endobronchial Watanabe Spigots for massive hemoptysis in a patient with pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex infection

The safety of occlusion with Endobronchial Watanabe Spigots (EWS) for the management of hemoptysis associated with chronic respiratory tract infection has not yet been established. A 57-year-old woman diagnosed as having pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection presented to our hospital with hemoptysis. She underwent bronchoscopy for bronchial occlusion with EWS, which resulted in the resolution of hemoptysis. Subsequently, she underwent bronchial artery embolization and then EWS were removed. During placement of EWS, no worsening of infection was observed. After removal of EWS, there was no recurrence of hemoptysis. Bronchial occlusion with EWS for hemoptysis associated with pulmonary MAC infection can be performed safely.