The Effectiveness of Gelfoam as the Sole and Primary Embolization Agent in the Management of Hemoptysis: A Retrospective Study from a Tertiary Care Center

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of Gelfoam as an effective embolizing agent in patients with hemoptysis presenting to a tertiary care center in developing nations. Material and Methods: A retrospective analysis of data from 30 patients treated by Interventional radiologist at St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore, India, was performed. The study included 22 males (73.3%) and 8 (26.65%) female patients. Gelfoam was used as the sole embolizing agent and arteries with features of abnormal blush and hypertrophy were targeted. Analysis of the etiology, immediate, and short-term outcome and complications, when present, was performed. The median follow-up period was 45 days following an embolization procedure at this center. Results: A high short-term efficacy was noted following embolization procedures with Gelfoam as the sole agent. Twenty-eight out of 30 procedures were deemed successful, and post-tubercular changes were noted to be the cause for hemoptysis in 23 patients. The high short-term efficacy (93.3%), evidenced by a complete stoppage of hemoptysis, along with a relatively low rate of complications (spinal cord ischemia in only 2.3%), strengthens the position of Gelfoam as the sole embolizing agent in a resource-limited setting. Conclusion: In an economically constrained setting, Gelfoam proves to be a useful first choice single embolization agent, while polyvinyl alcohol particles coupled with microcatheter systems remain within reach of only those who can afford them.