EMBOLIZATION THERAPY IN HEMOPTYSIS

Massive haemoptysis is a serious clinical condition to be treated with transcatheter embolotherapy of bronchial and/or other systemic arteri es to the lungs. Lung bleeding frequently originates from sites other than bronchials alone. It is important to consider the extensive colla teral network between bronchial, intercostal and pulmonary arteries an d veins. Between 1980 and 1991, 70 patients were embolized. Fifty indi viduals were controlled with a mean follow-up time of 62 months. Most frequently pathology was seen in vessels originating from the right up per middle lung region. The embolization agents we used were IBC, NIBC , dura mater particles, and Ivalon + IBC. Recurrent bleeding was notic ed in five patients, but not from embolized vessels. No major complica tions were encountered. Selective embolotherapy with tissue adhesives resulted in good short-term (90%) and long-term (100%) results. In 10% of cases, two or more embolization sessions were needed to cure the p atient of haemoptysis.