1983 Volume 5 Issue 4 Pages 475-481
Massive hemoptysis has an ominous prognosis in medical treatment. We have treated 9 cases of massive hemoptysis (500 ml or more in 24 hours). There were 6 males and 3 females in the series. The ages ranged from 26 to 61 years with an average of 49 years. Pulmonary tuberculosis was the cause of bleeding in 2 patients, bronchoectasis in 2, hemangioma in 2, lung abscess in 1, subclavian artery-pulmonary arterial fistula in 1 and no causative disease was found in 1. In 8 cases pulmonary resection was carried out with no operative death. In 7 cases preoperative bronchoscopy revealed the location of the bleeding site in 5 cases. In 7 cases preoperative angiography was carried out, and in 3 cases bronchial arterial hypervascularity was noted. Double lumen tracheal tubes were used in 7 cases to control intraoperative bleeding into the dependent lung. Lobectomy was performed in all cases. There were no significant postoperative complications and the prognosis was satisfactory. Our experience confirmed that pulmonary resection is the beat treatment for patients with massive hemoptysis as compared with conservative management.
