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Management of Life-Threatening Hemoptysis

Departments of Surgery and Radiology Tan Tock Seng Hospital Singapore, Republic of Singapore
For reprint information contact: Lim Yeong Phang, FRCS Tel: 65 436 7598 Fax: 65 224 3632 email: yplim{at}magix.com.sg Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, National Heart Centre, 17 Third Hospital Avenue, Mistri Wing, Singapore 168752, Republic of Singapore.

From June 1993 to June 1998, 50 patients were admitted with life-threatening hemoptysis (> 150 mL blood in 24 hours) due to pulmonary tuberculosis in 40, malignancy in 5, nontuberculous bronchiectasis in 4, and lung sequestration in 1. All patients had bronchial angiography with one session of embolization in 35 and more than one session in 11; no embolization was required in 4 cases. Surgery was necessary for recurrent hemoptysis in 6 patients. There were significant recurrences in 19 patients, of whom 5 died. Predictors of recurrence were the presence of mycetoma and presentation in a state of collapse. The fatal recurrences all took place within 1 week of the initial embolization and were probably due to incomplete embolization. In patients restudied after significant recurrences within 1 week of embolization, new vessels needed to be embolized in addition to previously treated vessels. It is postulated that some bleeding vessels may be missed at initial angiography, possibly due to vasospasm or low flow, and these may resume bleeding when the patient's hemodynamic status improves. An angiogram within 24 hours of embolization could identify such patients and they should be offered surgery if they are fit.