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__NOTOC__
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Hemothorax|here]]'''
{{Hemothorax (patient information)}}
{{Hemothorax (patient information)}}
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Hemothorax|here]]'''
{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor-In-Chief:''' [[User: Mohammed Sbeih|Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D.]] [mailto:msbeih@wikidoc.org] {{AG}}, [[User:Irfan Dotani|Irfan Dotani]]
 
{{CMG}}; '''Associate Editor-In-Chief:''' [[User: Mohammed Sbeih|Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D.]] [mailto:msbeih@wikidoc.org]


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


==What are the symptoms of Hemothorax?==
==What are the symptoms of Hemothorax?==
*Anxiety.
*[[Anxiety]]
*Chest pain.
*[[Chest pain]]
*Low blood pressure.
*Low [[blood pressure]]
*Pale, cool and clammy skin.
*Pale, cool and clammy skin
*Rapid heart rate.
*Rapid [[heart rate]]
*Rapid, shallow breathing.
*Rapid, shallow breathing
*Restlessness.
*Restlessness
*Shortness of breath.
*[[dyspnea|Shortness of breath]]


==What causes Hemothorax?==
==What causes Hemothorax?==
The most common cause of hemothorax is chest trauma. It can also occur in patients who have:
The most common cause of hemothorax is chest trauma. It can also occur in patients who have:
 
*A defect of [[blood clot]]ting
*A defect of blood clotting.
*Death of lung [[tissue]] ([[pulmonary infarction]])
*Death of lung tissue (pulmonary infarction).
*Lung or [[pleural]] [[cancer]]
*Lung or pleural cancer.
*Placement of a [[central venous catheter]]
*Placement of a central venous catheter.
*[[Thoracic]] or [[heart surgery]]
*Thoracic or heart surgery.
*[[Tuberculosis]]
*Tuberculosis.


==When to seek urgent medical care?==
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
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*Any serious injury to the chest.
*Any serious injury to the chest.
*Chest pain or shortness of breath.
*[[Chest pain]] or [[dyspnea|shortness of breath]]
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have:


*Dizziness, fever, or a feeling of heaviness in your chest.
*[[Dizziness]], fever, or a feeling of heaviness in your chest
*Severe chest pain.
*Severe [[chest pain]]
*Severe difficulty breathing.
*Severe difficulty breathing


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
Your doctor may note decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side. Signs of hemothorax may be seen on the following tests:
Your doctor may note decreased or absent [[breath sounds]] on the affected side. Signs of hemothorax may be seen on the following tests:
*Chest x-ray.
*Chest x-ray
*CT scan.
*[[CT scan]]
*Pleural fluid analysis.
*[[Pleural fluid]] analysis
*Thoracentesis.
*[[Thoracentesis]]


==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==
The goal of treatment is to get the patient stable, stop the bleeding, and remove the blood and air in the pleural space. A chest tube is inserted through the chest wall to drain the blood and air. It is left in place for several days to re-expand the lung.
The goal of treatment is to get the patient stable, stop the [[bleeding]], and remove the blood and air in the [[pleural space]]. A chest tube is inserted through the chest wall to drain the blood and air. It is left in place for several days to re-expand the lung.
When a hemothorax is severe and a chest tube alone does not control the bleeding, surgery (thoracotomy) may be needed to stop the bleeding.
When a hemothorax is severe and a chest tube alone does not control the [[bleeding]], [[surgery]] ([[thoracotomy]]) may be needed to stop the [[bleeding]].
The cause of the hemothorax should be also treated. In people who have had an injury, chest tube drainage is often all that is needed. Surgery is often not needed.
The cause of the hemothorax should be also treated. In people who have had an injury, chest tube drainage is often all that is needed. [[Surgery]] is often not needed.


==Where to find medical care for Hemothorax?==
==Where to find medical care for Hemothorax?==
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==Possible complications==
==Possible complications==
*Collapsed lung, leading to respiratory failure.
*Collapsed lung, leading to [[respiratory failure]]
*Death.
*Death
*Empyema.
*[[Empyema]]
*Fibrosis or scarring of the pleural membranes.
*[[Fibrosis]] or scarring of the [[pleural]] membranes
*Pneumothorax.
*[[Pneumothorax]]
*Shock.
*[[Shock]]


==Prevention==
==Prevention==
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==Sources==
==Sources==
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000126.htm
* http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000126.htm


[[Category:Cardiology patient information]]
[[Category:Cardiology]]
[[Category:Cardiology]]
[[Category:Pulmonary patient information]]
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Overview complete]]
[[Category:For review]]
[[Category:Pulmonology]]
[[Category:Pulmonology]]
[[Category:Template complete]]
[[Category:Surgery patient information]]
[[Category:Surgery]]
[[Category:Surgery]]
[[Category:Emergency medicine]]




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Latest revision as of 18:07, 24 April 2018

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Hemothorax

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Hemothorax?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

Hemothorax On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Hemothorax

Videos on Hemothorax

FDA on Hemothorax

CDC on Hemothorax

Hemothorax in the news

Blogs on Hemothorax

Directions to Hospitals Treating Hemothorax

Risk calculators and risk factors for Hemothorax

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D. [2] Anthony Gallo, B.S. [3], Irfan Dotani

Overview

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

What are the symptoms of Hemothorax?

What causes Hemothorax?

The most common cause of hemothorax is chest trauma. It can also occur in patients who have:

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call 911 if you have:

Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have:

  • Dizziness, fever, or a feeling of heaviness in your chest
  • Severe chest pain
  • Severe difficulty breathing

Diagnosis

Your doctor may note decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side. Signs of hemothorax may be seen on the following tests:

Treatment options

The goal of treatment is to get the patient stable, stop the bleeding, and remove the blood and air in the pleural space. A chest tube is inserted through the chest wall to drain the blood and air. It is left in place for several days to re-expand the lung. When a hemothorax is severe and a chest tube alone does not control the bleeding, surgery (thoracotomy) may be needed to stop the bleeding. The cause of the hemothorax should be also treated. In people who have had an injury, chest tube drainage is often all that is needed. Surgery is often not needed.

Where to find medical care for Hemothorax?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Hemothorax

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

The outcome depends on the cause of the hemothorax and how quickly treatment is given.

Possible complications

Prevention

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

Sources


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