title: Major haemoptysis in Hong Kong: aetiologies, angiographic findings and outcomes of bronchial artery embolisation.
abstract: METHODS
  Tertiary referral centres.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide comprehensive updates on the aetiologies, angiographic findings and outcomes of bronchial artery embolisation (BAE) for life-threatening haemoptysis in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of clinical records of consecutive patients presenting with life-threatening haemoptysis from 2000 to 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 3006 admissions due to haemoptysis involving 2260 patients during the study period; of these, 251 patients had life-threatening haemoptysis. Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) (active or inactive) and bronchiectasis were the main underlying causes. BAE was attempted in 167 patients. There was a high prevalence of bilateral bronchial arterial abnormalities (31.7%), presence of abnormal non-bronchial arteries (41.3%) and presence of broncho-pulmonary shunt (38.9%). BAE had a high immediate success rate of 95.7%, with a 5-year recurrence rate of 45.0%. Recurrent life-threatening haemoptysis was independently associated with past history of haemoptysis (P = 0.024), presence of broncho-pulmonary shunt (P = 0.013), and incomplete embolisation (P = 0.002). Complications were uncommon (<5%) and self-limiting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Hong Kong, about one tenth of admissions due to haemoptysis were life-threatening. PTB and bronchiectasis were the major causes. Complications due to BAE were uncommon and self-limiting, with super-selective catheters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR China.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: L K Y
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: J Y M
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: K-Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: C-S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: A W N
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C-M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D001981:Bronchial Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000208:ethnology