Haemoptysis

Haemoptysis is defined as expectoration of blood or bloody sputum. Potentially lethal or massive haemoptysis is defined as greater than 600 to 800mL blood in 24 hours. Most common causes of this disease is pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchial carcinoma, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, lung abscess, pneumonia, bronchial adenoma, left ventricular failure and hemorrhagic diathesis and mitral stenosis. Some investigations for haemoptysis are blood should be examined for hemoglobin level, total and differential leucocytes counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and blood group. Urine should be examined by microscopy for red cells and red cell casts is suspected hemorrhagic diathesis and good pastures syndrome. Sputum should be examined in all cases by microscopy and culture. Chest radiographs, both poster anterior and lateral views can provide important diagnostic clues and presence of cystic lesions, ring shadows, tram tracks, grape cluster. Apart from this computed tomography, electrocardiogram, bronchoscopy and isotope lung scans should be suggested to overcome this disease. Treatment of haemoptysis are substantial haemoptysis should be treated by keeping the patient calm, intubation and suction equipment should be ready at the bedside, position the patient so that the side of the chest from which bleeding is arising is lowermost and it prevents asphyxiation due to aspiration of blood into the normal lung, strong sedatives should be avoided but mild sedatives may be given to relieve anxiety, distressing cough may be suppressed with linctus codeine 15mL daily, consider endotracheal intubation if the patient has poor gas exchange has rapid ongoing haempotysis is unstable or has severe shortness of death.