Surgical treatment for hemoptysis

23 cases of airway bleeding due to causes other than lung cancer were treated surgically over a period of 10 years.Average age was 50 years-old.Male-female ratio was 15 : 8.Maximum volume of bleeding in a day; less than 50 g : 11, 100-200 g : 8, more than 500 g : 4. Diseases were; 3 total pyothorax, 1 partial pyothorax, 2 tension-hemopyothorax, 4 tuberculous destroyed lungs, 3 bronchiectasis, 1 silicotic tuberculosis, 1 broncholithiasis, 1 aspergillosis, 1 intrapulmonary foreign body, 2 tiny tuberculous foci, 3 idiopathic airway bleeding, 1 pulmonary rupture of the chest wall angiosarcoma.More than 80% of the cases were tuberculosis or tuberculosis-related diseases. Surgical procedures were ; Pleuro-pneumonectomy : 6, Pneumonectomy : 4, Lobectomy : 6, Segmentectomy : 1, Empyema-space reduction : 1, Closure of the intermediate bronchus : 1. Operative positions; Prone : 13, Lateral : 8, Supine : 2. Preoperative hemostasis was tried in 3 cases and all failed.Operations were successful in 20 of the 23 cases. We advocate direct surgical procedure for hemoptysis cases if the bleeding foci are apparent and the patients have sufficient respiratory reserve.