Hemoptysis due to severe obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

Although OSA is rarely mentioned as a clinically relevant differential diagnosis of hemoptysis in the literature, we report on a patient with chronic hemoptysis, which was caused by repetitive intrathoracic negative pressures due to severe upper airway obstruction.A 56-year-old overweight patient (BMI 32 kg/m2), with a long history of smoking (40 PY) and who complained of pronounced daytime sleepiness, was referred 2 years ago in March and last year in the summer to our emergency room because of long lasting mild hemoptysis.Sedation during bronchoscopies induced hypopharyngeal collapse accompanied by severe obstructive apneas and massive inspiratory negative pressure. Simultaneously, multiple petechial and larger flat mucosal bleeding as fresh blood coverings occurred on the bronchial mucosa. At the first presentation, the patient wished no further diagnosis. During the second presentation, polysomnography including transcutaneous CO2 measurement showed a severe OSA in combination with hypoventilation (AHI of 76/h, desaturation index: 128/h; medium PCO2 value of 56 mmHg). OSA was treated effectively with oronasal positive pressure.With this case report we underline the generally underestimated implication of strong intrathoracic negative pressures in severe OSA as a clinically relevant differential diagnosis of hemoptysis.