Traumatic hemothorax: Analysis of 108 cases

Abstract

To evaluate treatment approaches and follow-up results of patients with hemothorax a total of 108 patients (81 male and 27 female) diagnosed as hemothorax and treated between August 2006 and October 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. The most common cause of hemothorax was blunt trauma (n:92, 85.2%) and 16 cases of hemothorax (14.8%) had a penetrating trauma. Hemothorax after blunt trauma occured due to traffic accidents in 58 cases (63.04%), due to falls from height in 21 cases (22.82%), due to injuries caused by animals in 9 cases (9.78%) and due to roadway crashes in 4 cases (4.34%). Hemothorax after penetrating trauma, on the other hand, occured due to penetrating injuries in 10 cases (62.5%) and due to gunshot injuries in 6 cases (37.5%). In the present study it was found that hemothorax accompanied by other organs injury in 56 cases (51.8%) and extremity fractures also present in 24 cases (22.2%). Thoracotomy was performed in 14 cases and median sternotomy in one case. Mortality was detected in 5 cases (4.6%). Hemothorax after thoracic trauma is an emergency which needs to be diagnosed immediately, inquired about accompanying organ injuries and treated accordingly. 

Keywords

• Chest tube
• Hemothorax
• Thoracotomy
• Trauma

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