Bronchial Artery Embolization BAE is advised if there has been a history of coughing up blood, also known as hemoptysis. Bleeding is often greater when it comes from the bronchial arteries (arteries in the lungs) because of the high pressure in these arteries. As a result, even minor bleeding from these arteries tends to result in blood loss, and may need urgent attention

In this procedure, X-rays are used to examine the bronchial arteries. As these arteries do not show up on a regular chest X-ray, a special dye is injected into the arteries through a fine plastic tube so as to identify them easily. Once the bronchial artery that is bleeding is found, tiny particles (the size of grains of sand) are injected to clot the vessel and stop the bleeding.