Surgery for hemoptysis in various pulmonary tuberculous lesions: a prospective study

Hemoptysis due to pulmonary tuberculous lesions is a common cause of morbidity, and occasionally mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical outcome of hemoptysis in patients with various tuberculous pulmonary lesions. A total of 45 cases who underwent surgical procedures for various pulmonary tuberculous lesions with hemoptysis were included in this study. Sixteen patients underwent surgical management within one week of the attack of hemoptysis (group A), the other 29 patients underwent surgery one week after the attack (group B). Hemoptysis was classified into minor, major and massive hemoptysis. Major and massive hemoptysis were the common presentation of group A and tuberculous cavities were the most common lung lesions in both groups (37.7%). Lobectomy was the main surgical procedure performed in both groups (51.1%). Bronchopleural fistula occurred in one case in each group after right pneumonectomy. There was one case (6.2%) of mortality in group A. Tuberculous cavity is the common pulmonary lesion which can result in major and massive hemoptysis, therefore, we recommend early surgical resection of tuberculous cavities to avoid life-threatening hemoptysis. Limited resection should be avoided to prevent recurrence.