Hemoptysis (synonyms: Sputum with blood; Coughing up blood, bloody sputum; Sputum with blood; Haemoptysis; Hemoptysis; Hemoptysis; Cough with bleeding; Cough with hemorrhage; Sputum with blood; ICD-10-GM R04.2: Hemoptysis) is the expectoration of blood from the lower airways.
To be distinguished from hemoptysis is “coughed up blood” (false hemoptysis). This is blood from the nose or throat that is coughed up together with saliva.
Furthermore, a distinction must be made between mild and massive hemoptysis. Massive hemoptysis rapidly leads to obstruction of the airway and death via asphyxia (impending suffocation).
The incidence (frequency of new cases) of hemoptysis is approximately 0.1% of all outpatients and nearly 0.2% of all hospitalized patients per year.
Hemoptysis can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential Diagnoses”). The most common are inflammatory respiratory diseases followed by malignancies (cancers).
Course and prognosis: Course and prognosis depend on the cause of the disease. Since hemoptysis is a potentially vital threatening emergency situation, it requires immediate clarification of the cause as well as therapy.
In massive hemoptysis, lethality (mortality relative to the total number of people with the disease) is 50-100% with conservative therapy.
