Effect of bronchial artery embolisation on the management of tuberculosis-related haemoptysis.

OBJECTIVE

To identify risk factors influencing outcomes of bronchial arterial embolisation (BAE) in tuberculosis (TB) related haemoptysis.

METHODS

A cohort of 207 patients underwent BAE for TB-related haemoptysis between March 2014 and March 2018. The clinical data were reviewed. Follow-up ranged from 24 to 1749 days.

RESULTS

Immediate haemostasis rate was 94.2%; aggressive pleural thickening (PT) was found to be a risk factor for haemoptysis (P = 0.000, OR 22.52). Cumulative recurrence-free rates were respectively 98.5%, 94.8%, 88.7%, 79.9%, 68.5%, 65.7% and 62.7% for 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months. Respectively 8 and 15 patients recovered from pneumonectomy and re-BAE. However, five patients required a third BAE. The Cox regression analysis indicated that aggressive PT (P = 0.000), diabetes mellitus (DM) (P = 0.018) and pulmonary fungal infection (PFI) (P = 0.001) were independent risk factors for recurrence. The death rate following BAE was 9.2%; aggressive PT was a risk factor (P = 0.000, OR 8.14).

CONCLUSION

BAE is effective for TB-related haemoptysis in most cases. Aggressive PT, DM and PFI are independent risk factors influencing the prognosis following BAE. PFI and DM should be well managed, while proper surgery should be considered for aggressive PT.