CONTROL OF TUBERCULAR HEMOPTYSIS BY BRONCHIAL ARTERY EMBOLIZATION

Thirty-seven patients presenting with massive or recurrent haemoptysis secondary to tuberculous aetiology were subjected to bronchial artery angiography. Of these, failure to catheterize the bleeding vessel occ urred in two patients while embolization was withheld in two patients due to the presence of anterior spinal artery arising from a common in tercosto-bronchial trunk. Immediate arrest of bleeding was performed i n the remaining 33 patients by selective embolization of the abnormal bronchial arteries with a resorbable material (Gelfoam). Regular follo w up for a duration of 6 months after the procedure revealed relapse o f haemoptysis in four patients; three were treated by re-embolization of the abnormal bleeding vessels while one patient died due to aspirat ion immediately on admission. No recurrence of bleeding was seen in th e remaining 29 patients. It is concluded that bronchial artery emboliz ation is an effective treatment for immediate control of life-threaten ing haemoptysis.