A Clinical Review of Hemoptysis

A retrospective analysis was done of 88 patients with hemoptysis cared for between 1991 and 1997 at our institution. There were 56 male and 32 female patients, with a mean age of 52 years (range: 15 to 91 years). On chest X-ray, there were 31 patients (35.2%) with findings related to hemoptysis, and 57 patients (64.8%) with normal or no related findings. The part of lung from which the intrabronchial hemorrhage originated could be localized in 45 patients (51.1%) by bronchofiberscope. The upper right lobe was involved more often than the others. The most common underlying cause of hemoptysis was bronchiectasis, which accounted for 46.6% of our patients. Bronchial arteriography was performed in massive hemoptysis patients. Angiographic findings for the bronchial arteries consisted of dilatation, hypervascularity, bronchopulmonary shunts, and extravasation. Successful control of bleeding by conservative therapies was achieved for 64 patients (72.7%). There were 16 patients who underwent bronchial-artery embolization or operation, and 8 patients who had endobronchial treatment.