The clinical effects of bronchial arterial embolization in hemoptysis

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) in hemoptysis. Methods Forty-five patients with hemoptysis were treated with bronchial artery embolization using gelfoam and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) micropheres. Results BAE was successfully performed in 45 cases with hemoptysis under controlled completely in 41 patients. Hemoptysis recured in 4 cases with recurrent rate of 8.9%. Five patients developed postembolization syndrome characterized by mild fever and chest pain and ended with spontaneous recovery without special management. No patient had complications of inguinal hematoma at the puncture site of the femoral artery and paraplegia of the lower limbs. Conclusions Bronchial arterial embolization is a clinically rapid, safe and effective method in the treatment of hemoptysis.