Hemothorax
If initial drainage is > 1000-1500 mL or their is continued brisk output (> 300-500 mL in the first hour or > 200 mL every hour for the next 3 hours) consult trauma surgery for emergent OR management - Anand Swaminathan MD
HWN Suggests
Managing a Massive Hemothorax: A Guide to Stabilizing Your Patient
As the majority of hemothoraces arise from injured lung parenchyma and are commonly self-limited, management with chest tube thoracostomy is frequently adequate. The placement of a chest tube is therapeutic in that expansion of the lung with apposition of the visceral and parietal pleural aids in hemostasis. Drainage of blood from the parietal cavity also prevents the common complication of empyema or fibrothorax.
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Traumatic Hemothorax: Pigtail vs Chest Tube
The data presented in this paper add to the growing body of evidence in support of smaller catheters over large-bore chest tubes for the management of hemothorax. However, we need larger multicenter trials before adopting wholesale changes to our clinical practice.
Articles of Interest
CORE EM: Traumatic Hemothorax
Always look for concomitant extra-thoracic trauma in patients with hemothorax.
