My husband was intubated for 2 1/2 days while sedated after a seizure waiting for MRI. This was last Thursday. He coughed up phlegm and blood for several hours. Then it was just phlegm. It dissipated over the weekend. When he came home today, he started to cough really hard and coughed up what looks like a 1 square of flesh. Then a few hours later, he coughed up a larger piece. Is this something we should worry about or take him to the emergency room?
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. In my opinion you should get done at least chest x-ray to rule out other causes of hemoptysis (coughing out blood). If chest x-ray is normal than no need to worry. The blood might be due to friction of endotracheal tube during the time of hospital stay. And the description you are giving favors old clotted blood, rather than fresh blood. As fresh bleeding appears bright red. So get done chest x-ray first and if this is normal than no need to worry much.