• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1994

Between January 1990 and June 1993, the retrospective analysis was done in 48 consecutive patients with hemoptysis. According to clinical condition of patients, managements were divided into 3 subgroups; group 1[percutaneous bronchial artery embolization, group 2[operation after percutaneous bronchial artery embolization],group 3[delayed and emergency operation]. It was characterized that recurrence of hemoptysis was very frequent and most frequent underlying cause was pulmonary tuberculosis. In 40 patients[83%] urgent examination with flexible broncoscope was done and localization of the bleeding source was possible only in 24[60%] patients. The amount of hemoptysis was variable but there are no difference between groups and 22 patients[45%] had a prior episode of hemoptysis usually within 3 months of their admission. The recurrence was limited only in group 1[3/22] and the mortality rate was 6%[3/48]. We suggest that percutaneus bronchial artery embolization may be effective in recurrent massive hemoptysis but definitive management was operation.