Hemothorax overview

Revision as of 15:46, 31 January 2013 by Shankar Kumar (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Hemothorax Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Hemothorax from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Study of Choice

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Electrocardiogram

Chest X Ray

Echocardiography or Ultrasound

CT

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Hemothorax overview On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Hemothorax overview

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Hemothorax overview

CDC on Hemothorax overview

Hemothorax overview in the news

Blogs on Hemothorax overview

Directions to Hospitals Treating Hemothorax

Risk calculators and risk factors for Hemothorax overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Hemothorax is a collection of blood in the space between the chest wall and the lung (the pleural cavity).

Pathophysiology

A hemothorax is a condition that results from blood accumulating in the pleural cavity. Its cause is usually traumatic, from a blunt or penetrating injury to the thorax, resulting in a rupture of either of the serous membrane lining the thorax and covering the lungs. This rupture allows blood to spill into the pleural space, equalizing the pressures between it and the lungs. Blood loss may be massive in people with these conditions, as each side of the thorax can hold 30%-40% of a person's blood volume. If left untreated, the condition can progress to a point where the blood accumulation begins to put pressure on the mediastinum and the trachea, effectively limiting the amount of diastolic filling of the ventricles and deviating the trachea to the unaffected side.

Treatement

Surgery

A hemothorax is managed by removing the source of bleeding and by draining the blood already in the thoracic cavity. Blood in the cavity can be removed by inserting a drain (chest tube) in a procedure called a tube thoracostomy. Patients should recover swiftly after this. However, if the cause is rupture of the aorta in high energy trauma, the intervention by a thoracic surgeon is mandatory.

Primary Prevention

Use safety measures (such as seat belts) to avoid injury. Depending on the cause, a hemothorax may not be preventable.

References

Template:WH Template:WS