Hemoptysis



Hemoptysis





Brisk bleeding from the tracheobronchial tree is one of the more dramatic symptoms with which a patient may present to the emergency department. In all cases, it is essential to verify that blood originates from within the tracheobronchial tree and not from the gastrointestinal tract or nasopharynx. In this regard, tracheobronchial blood is usually bright red and frothy, whereas gastrointestinal blood is usually dark red or brown, acidic, and often mixed with partially digested food particles. Although vomiting usually accompanies gastrointestinal bleeding, coughing typically initiates and accompanies hemoptysis.

As in any patient with blood loss, hemodynamic stabilization is an immediate priority and should be managed as described in “Management of Hemorrhagic Shock Due to Gastrointestinal Bleeding,” in Chapter 28.


COMMON CAUSES OF HEMOPTYSIS



  • Bacterial pneumonitis


  • Congestive heart failure (CHF)


  • Bronchogenic carcinoma*


LESS COMMON CAUSES OF HEMOPTYSIS NOT TO BE MISSED



  • Mitral stenosis


  • Pulmonary infarction


  • Pulmonary embolism


  • Bronchial adenoma


  • Tuberculosis*


  • Acute tracheobronchitis


OTHER CAUSES OF HEMOPTYSIS



  • Chronic bronchitis


  • Arteriovenous malformation


  • Foreign body


  • Bronchiectasis


  • Aspergilloma


  • Goodpasture syndrome



  • Wegener granulomatosis


  • Strongyloidiasis


  • Leptospirosis


  • Trauma




PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Fever and cough productive of purulent sputum suggest bacterial pneumonitis. The physical examination may confirm the presence of focal pulmonary consolidation in patients with pneumonia but is expected to be essentially unremarkable in patients with acute tracheobronchitis. Weight loss and cachexia in a smoker with hemoptysis should suggest the possibility of bronchogenic carcinoma. Cachexia, chronic cough, posttussive rales, and amphoric breath sounds at the apices are noted in patients with reactivated tuberculosis. Rales, an S3

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Jun 10, 2016 | Posted by in EMERGENCY MEDICINE | Comments Off on Hemoptysis

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