Management and prognosis of massive hemoptysis: Recent experience with 120 patients

Abstract

A retrospective analysis was done of 120 consecutive patients with life- threatening hemoptysis (greater than 200 ml of discharge per 24 hours) cared for between 1983 and 1990 at our institution. Seventy-nine percent of the patients (95/120) had hemoptysis exceeding 500 ml/24 hr. Inflammatory lung disease was the underlying cause in at least 85% of cases (n = 103); and of these, pulmonary tuberculosis was the primary diagnosis in 85% (88/103). Fifty-two patients (43%) had had a prior episode of massive hemoptysis, usually within 3 months of their admission. Urgent examination with rigid endoscope in 97 patients (81%) localized the bleeding in only 42 (43%). The overall hospital mortality rat..