HEMOPTYSIS - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 108 CASES IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

A prospective study is performed in 108 patients presenting hemoptysis who were attended in the Emergency department. Final diagnosis was achieved in 89 cases (82,4%), being lung infections of tuberculous origen or not, neoplasias, and chronic obstructive lung mephysema the main observed etiologies. A low percentage of severe hemoptysis is found (5,6%). Diagnosis was obtained in 79,6% of patients by clinical history, physical exam, chest x-ray and ORL exam. Only 13,6% of patients who were not diagnosed in the Emergency department were later diagnosed by follow up and performance of complementary tests. Similarly, the lack of an initial etiological diagnosis had no repercussion, by itself, in a worse prognosis. Therefore, it is recommended to perform a single strict evolution control in patients with hemoptysis of unknown origen who present risk factors of lung neoplasia (male sex, age > 40 years, smoking > 45 packs/years).