Bronchial artery embolization for massive hemoptysis.

Improved angiographic techniques have proved that therapeutic embolization is effective in controlling massive hemorrhage in selected sites of the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. We have controlled massive hemoptysis in five cases with use of our improved techniques and bronchial artery embolization. Because mortality due to massive hemoptysis in both benign and malignant disease is high, therapeutic bronchial artery embolization is the preferable approach in some cases.