The causes of massive hemoptysis

In a group of 656 patients examined for hemoptysis of unknown etiology the average amount of expectorated blood in individual diagnostic groups was evaluated and the patients with massive hemoptysis (> 100 ml/24 hrs) were selected. The hemoptysis was evaluated as massive in 53 patients (8%), being most frequent in patients with chronic anatomical changes of lung parenchyma (22/64) and active tuberculosis (4/26). The fact that massive hemoptysis endangers above all patients with bronchiectasis and other anatomical disorders of the lung parenchyma was evident through the comparison of the average maximal amount of expectorated blood, which was significantly higher in this group (78 ml/24 hrs) than in the majority of other diagnoses (total average 22 ml/24 hrs). In conclusion, the risk of sudden massive hemoptysis should be kept in mind in these patients even if only minimal bleeding occurs and energetic cautionary measures should be implemented right from the onset of bloody expectoration.