OBJECTIVE. To examine the efficacy and safety of bronchial artery embolisation in patients with acute major haemoptysis and those with chronic recurrent haemoptysis.

DESIGN. Retrospective review of clinical records.

SETTING. Regional hospital, Hong Kong.

PATIENTS. Clinical records of 70 consecutive patients who had undergone bronchial artery embolisation in Queen Elizabeth Hospital from 1998 to 2003 were reviewed. Altogether 74 bronchial artery embolisation procedures were attempted, 46 (62%) for acute major haemoptysis, and 28 (38%) for chronic recurrent bleeding. Follow-up data were available for 32 patients.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. After bronchial artery embolisation, the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests were used to compare the probability of recurrence in the two patient categories.

RESULTS. Overall immediate control was attained following 99% of the procedures, with a complication rate of 13%; all complications were mild and self-limiting. For the 32 patients (19 having acute major haemoptysis and 13 having chronic recurrent bleeding) with follow-up data available, the overall recurrence rate was 36% (26% in the acute and 47% in chronic group). No statistically significant difference in recurrence probability between the two groups was observed (P=0.24). Presence of active pulmonary tuberculosis was associated with increased risk of recurrence (P=0.005).

CONCLUSION. Bronchial artery embolisation was noted to be effective and safe in both acute major and chronic recurrent haemoptysis.

Key words: Bronchial arteries; Bronchiectasis; Embolization, therapeutic; Hemoptysis; Recurrence

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