BRONCHIAL ARTERY EMBOLIZATION AS A THERAPEUTIC STATEGY FOR MANAGEMENT OF MASSIVE HEMOPTYSIS

Abstract

assive hemoptysis is an emergent and life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate. Bronchoscopy and MDCT scanning show significant contributing roles in delineating the etiology and the source of hemoptysis prior to bronchial artery arteriography. Our findings are in accordance with the current literature supportingbronchial artery embolization as a safe and long-term non-invasive effective method of treatment for massive hemoptysis with a high initial rate of success. BAE may help to avoid surgery in patients who are not good surgical candidates. If hemoptysis recur in these patients, embolization can be safely performed with good response rate. If surgery is indicated, BAE can stabilize the patient prior to surgery. It is important to embolize non-bronchial systemic arteries at the same setting, if they are angiographically shown to be contributing to the blood supply to avoid therapy failure and necessity for re-embolization. It is also important to treat the underlying pulmonary process to decrease vascularity and the development of vascular collaterals. Further studies are needed to determine whether any of the various embolic materials currently available is superior in preventing rebleeding.