Abstract
Haemoptysis, i.e. expectoration of blood or of blood-stained sputum, is always a warning sign that can signal the presence of a serious lung disease. While searching for the origin of the bleeding, we must firstly exclude areas outside of the lungs themselves, i.e. mouth, upper airways and upper parts of gastrointestinal tract.
The most frequent cause of haemoptysis in young non-smokers is inflammation or lung embolism, in older smokers we must think about lung cancer as the first option. Among the important diagnostic methods in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of haemoptysis are chest radiographs, computed tomography of the lungs with contrast imaging and bronchoscopy.
Treatment of haemoptysis is causal, if underlying disease is known and curable (inflammation, lung embolism, vessel malformation). A symptomatic therapeutic approach includes application of haemostyptics, methods of interventional bronchology and radiology and at least orotracheal intubation in massive life-threatening haemoptysis.