EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF HEMOPTYSIS IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN - A REPORT OF 9 CASES

Hemoptysis is an occasional complication of adult pulmonary disease an d is rare in children. The most common causes in adults are infection, bronchiectasis, pulmonary neoplasm, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary infarc t, and trauma; in children the most common causes are infection and co ngenital abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary vasculature. Nine cases of hemoptysis in seven infants and two children will be presented. Two cases were fatal, thus illustrating the importance of rapid and defin itive therapy early in the course. One of the fatal cases is the first case report in the otolaryngological literature of fatal hemoptysis i n the newborn as a result of vascular anomalies associated with an abs ent left pulmonary artery. Eight cases of various causes, including sm all vessel vascular abnormality, trauma, recurrent pulmonary infection , and laryngotracheal papilloma, are discussed. The literature is revi ewed, embryology is discussed, and a mechanism of death is theorized f or the patient with the congenital vessel anomaly. Management consider ations for hemoptysis in infants and children are discussed.