Bronchial Artery Embolization Due to Hemoptysis;is it Really Effective?

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to evaluate retrospectively the data of patients undergoing bronchial artery embolizatıon (BAE) formassive or non-massive hemoptysis in our clinic and discussed with the literature. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated patients with acute severe or chronic recurrent hemoptysis admittedto the pulmonology department and submitted to BAE for the purpose of embolization. Results: A total of 52 patients were submitted to BAE, 41 (78.8%) were male, with a mean age 53.7±14.8 years. Hemop tysis was considered severe in 22 (42.3%) patients. Bronchiectasis (other than cystic fibrosis) (n=12; 23.1%) and tuberculosis(TB) sequelae (n=11; 21.2) were the major etiology for hemoptysis. None of our patients developed early or late compli cations related to the procedure. Hemoptysis recurred in five patients at 12-month follow-up of each patient. There wasno significant difference between the amount of hemoptysis and the presence of lesion on computed tomography, activebleeding on bronchoscopy or recurrence. Conclusion: Bronchiectasis (except those associated with cystic fibrosis), TB, and TB sequelae were the major etiologies forhemoptysis. Our results show that BAE is a safe and effective treatment supporting the current literature for acute massiveand chronic recurrent hemoptysis.