Treatment of Acute Hemoptysis by Bronchial Artery Embolization with the Liquid Embolic Agent Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer.

Purpose: To determine the technical and clinical success of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) with the liquid embolic agent ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer in patients with acute hemoptysis.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-four patients (25 male; mean age, 58 y; range, 13-78 y) who underwent BAE with EVOH were retrospectively reviewed. Reasons for acute hemoptysis included lung cancer (44%), pulmonary metastases (12%), bronchiectasis (21%), arteriovenous malformation (5%), tuberculosis (6%), aspergilloma (3%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (3%), anticoagulant overdose (3%), and scar tissue (3%). Technical and clinical success of BAE were retrospectively assessed.

Results: Embolization was technically successful in 94% of patients. Additional embolization material was needed in 4 patients (12%). The immediate clinical success rate was 94% (32 of 34); in 2 patients (6%), hemoptysis recurred immediately after the intervention or could not be stopped. Periinterventional minor complications included headache (n = 1), fever (n = 1), and acute renal failure (n = 1). During follow-up (mean, 8.8 mo), 5 patients had a recurrence of hemoptysis (15%).

Conclusions: The use of EVOH copolymer for BAE in patients with acute hemoptysis is technically successful and safe and has a good clinical outcome with a low number of recurrences.