Haemoptysis

• Haemoptysis can range from small flecks to catastrophic haemorrhage
• The patients may also have symptoms relating to the cause of the haemoptysis, for example infection, pulmonary thromboembolism, tumour erosion, severe heart failure
•  Other symptoms may include:
  • pain
  • cough
  • shortness of breath.

Signs should be sought to confirm the diagnosis from the history.

• Consider and manage the underlying cause (for example tumour erosion/ infection/ pulmonary thromboembolism)
• Consider admission where there is a potentially reversible cause
• Stop anticoagulants unless there is a high suspicion of thromboembolic disease causing haemoptysis
• Oral corticosteroids can be helpful for those with inflammation and direct invasion from cancer
• Antifibrinolytics can be helpful but can be associated with increased thromboembolic disease
• Antibiotics should be considered where infection is suspected.