Hemothorax: Difference between revisions
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== Diagnostic Procedures == | == Diagnostic Procedures == | ||
* Chest X-ray | |||
* Ultrasound | |||
* CT scan | |||
* MRI scan | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
== Management / Interventions == | == Management / Interventions == | ||
Revision as of 13:43, 6 April 2019
The term hemothorax can be defined as the entry of pleural fluid and blood into the pleural cavity. It needs to be pleural fluid with a hematocrit of 25% - 50% of the patient’s blood to be diagnosed as a hemothorax.[1]
Mechanism of Injury / Pathological Process[edit | edit source]
There are two layers of pleura. One of which covers the lung surface (visceral pleura) and the other the inside of the chest wall (parietal pleura). These layers of pleura adhere to each other to keep the lung from collapsing, even with the expiration of air from the lung. If air or fluid enters the pleural cavity in between these layers of pleura, it causes the lung to collapse due to its elastic recoil. If it is only air entering the pleural cavity it causes a pneumothorax. If it is fluid or blood entering the pleural cavity it could cause a pleural effusion or hemothorax. A hemothorax could be caused by trauma, coagulopathy or iatrogenic causes (through procedures like central line insertion or pleural biopsies).[1]
Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
- fever
- pallor
- chest pain
- chest heaviness
- dyspnea
- tachycardia
- cold sweats
Diagnostic Procedures[edit | edit source]
- Chest X-ray
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- MRI scan
Management / Interventions[edit | edit source]
Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Patrini D, Panagiotopoulos N, Pararajasingham J, Gvinianidze L, Iqbal Y, Lawrence DR. Etiology and management of spontaneous haemothorax. Journal of thoracic disease. 2015 Mar;7(3):520.
