Bronchiectasis, cancer and tuberculosis account for the majority of haemoptysis requiring intensive care unit admission. Bedside evaluation (volume and bronchoscopic active bleeding) is safe to screen patients for arteriography and bronchial artery embolisation (BAE). First-line interventional arteriography should be favour over surgery in patients with non traumatic life-threatening hemoptysis. Surgery must be reserved in cases of failure or recurrence of bleeding after BAE.