Pulmonary resection in the treatment of life-threatening hemoptysis

Massive hemoptysis is a life threatening situation with high mortality rates. Surgery is effective, however generally an avoided treatment. We report our experience with patients undergoing lung resection for life-threatening hemoptysis.

Records of all surgically treated patients for hemoptysis between June 2009 and June 2012 were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively.

Anatomical resection was performed on 31 (15.3%) patients out of 203 patients referred to our intensive care unit for life-threatening hemoptysis. 25 (80.6%) were male and six (19.4%) were female; with mean age of 46.4 ± 13.7 (21-77). Pneumonectomy was performed in four (12.9%), lobectomy in 24 (77.4%), segmentectomy in two (6.5%) and bilobectomy in one case. Postoperative complications developed in eight (25.8%), and mortality was observed in two (6.5%) patients. Etiology was bronchiectasis in 13 (42.0%), tuberculosis in eight (25.8%), carcinoma in four (12.9%), aspergilloma in four (12.9%), hydatid cyst in one (3.2%) and lung abscess in one (3.2%) of the cases.

Although lung resection in the treatment of massive hemoptysis is accompanied with high morbidity and mortality rates, surgery is the only permanent curative modality. Acceptable results can be achived in the company of a multidisciplinary approach, through avoidance of pneumonectomy and urgent surgery.