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Gary L. Griffith
Edward P. Todd
John V. Zeok
Joe R. Utley
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Ann Thorac Surg 1978;26:204-207
© 1978 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Articles

Acute Traumatic Hemothorax

Gary L. Griffith, M.D., Edward P. Todd, M.D., Ph.D.*, Rodney D. McMillin, M.D., John V. Zeok, M.D., Mark L. Dillon, M.D., Joe R. Utley, M.D., Ward O. Griffen, M.D.

Division of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY

* Address reprint requests to Dr. Todd, University of Kentucky Medical Center, 800 Rose St, MN 272, Lexington, KY 40506

Over the past 5 years, 107 patients have been evaluated for acute traumatic hemothorax at the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Immediate tube thoracostomy was performed on 90 patients for evacuation of blood and air. Only 2 patients died. Thoracotomy was performed as part of the initial therapy in 9 patients. Thoracotomy for continued hemorrhage from a pulmonary parenchymal injury was required in 3 patients from the entire group.

Thoracentesis or observation was the initial therapy for limited hemothorax in 8 stable patients. Three of these patients subsequently required tube thoracostomy 2 to 23 days following injury due to expanding effusions, and 1 patient required multiple thoracotomies for sepsis, fibrothorax, and empyema.

These observations indicate that early evacuation of blood by means of a tube thoracostomy is essential to minimize morbidity in acute traumatic hemothorax. If continuing hemorrhage after tube thoracostomy occurs, there is a higher association of injury to additional vital structures.






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Copyright © 1978 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.