Immediate operative treatment for massive hemoptysis.

A series of 15 patients with life threatening, massive hemoptysis is reported. Thirteen of these patients underwent immediate operative treatment with only three deaths. One died after bronchoscopic identification of the bleeding site while awaiting elective thoracotomy. The other patient left the hospital against medical advice. Immediate identification of the site of bleeding by bronchoscopy followed by thoracotomy with resection of the bleeding source, is the preferred method of managing such patients, except when there are specific contraindications to resection.