Endovascular treatment of haemoptysis: medium and long-term assessment

To assess the short, medium and long-term results of bronchial artery embolisation (BAE) and identify the factors favouring the recurrence of haemoptysis.

This is a retrospective study, between January 2001 and June 2010, comprising 53 consecutive patients with BAE. The mean age was 53.8 years. There were 15 women (28.30%) and 38 men (71.69%).

The aetiologies of haemoptysis were dominated by the residual signs of pulmonary tuberculosis: 18 cases (33.96%), bronchial dilations: 12 cases (22.64%) and aspergilloma: five cases (9.43%). The bronchial arteriography showed signs of bronchial hypervascularisation in 92.45% of the cases. Forty-six patients had a first embolisation (86.79%) with immediate efficacy in 84.90% of the cases (n=45). This efficacy was noted after more than 3 years in 60.08% of the cases. Short (< 30 days) and medium-term (> 30 days and < 3 years) recurrence of haemoptysis were noted in 17.39% and 8.69% of the cases respectively. A statistically significant correlation between aspergilloma and the immediate recurrence was found (P=0.013). The risk of medium and long-term recurrence (> 3 years) was correlated with age. The survival without recurrence was statistically higher when the age was less than 60 years (P=0.0041).

BAE is an effective treatment. Aspergilloma is a major risk factor in the recurrence of haemoptysis. Repeated embolisation may be proposed for these patients.