To explore main technical points and clinical efficacy of individualized stepwise multiple embolization treatment for refractory hemoptysis.

To retrospectively analyze materials of 103 patients treated by individualized stepwise multiple embolization. According to disease categories, individualized stepwise multiple embolization treatment with polyvinyl alcohol and loaded sodium alginate microspheres as basic embolization agent were performed, after the type, number, abnormal branches, pulmonary circulation and systematic pulmonary shunt of targeted vessels were confirmed through radiography. To judge short(less than 3 months), medium(3 to 6 months) and long term(more than 6 months) efficacy, resolution of hemoptysis after operation were assessed. To evaluate efficacy of individualized stepwise multiple embolization treatment for refractory hemoptysis, Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used. According to the features of target vessels to supply blood, patients were classified into with SPS and without SPS. By using Log-Rank test, the effective rates of one-year were compared between them.

Out of 103 patients, 215 target vessels were demonstrated, among which individualized stepwise multiple embolization was for 196 target vessels, peripheral embolization for 8 vessels, and main trunk embolization in 11 patients. The visits after operation were made to 103 patients after 6 to 50 months, with the medium of 21 months. Hemoptysis was instantly resolved in 97.1% (100/103). The effective rates were 94.5%,93.2%, 89.7%,88.9%,85.2% and 76.6% for one, three, six months and one, two and three years after operation. In 103 patients, patients with SPS were 22 and without SPS were 81. One-year effective rates with and without SPS were (69.50 ±0.11)% and (98.30 ±0.03)% , respectively (χ²=11.662,P<0.01).

Individualized stepwise multiple embolization treatment shows excellent short-term and mid-long term efficacy in the treatment of refractory hemoptysis.

Hemoptysis; Bronchial arteries; Embolization,therapeutic