Hemothorax is a collection of blood in the space between the chest wall and the lung (the pleural cavity).
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe most common cause of hemothorax is chest trauma. It can also occur in patients who have:
Your doctor may note decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side. Signs of hemothorax may be seen on the following tests:
TreatmentThe goal of treatment is to stabilize the patient, 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 trauma patients, depending on the severity of the injury, chest tube drainage is often all that is necessary. Surgery is often not required.
Expectations (prognosis)The outcome depends on the cause of the hemothorax and how quickly treatment is given.
ComplicationsCall 911 if you have:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have:
Use safetymeasures (such as seat belts) to avoid injury. Depending on the cause, a hemothorax may not be preventable.
ReferencesEckstein M, Henderson S. Thoracic trauma. In: Marx J, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2006: chap 42.
Hemothorax is a collection of blood in the space between the chest wall and the lung (the pleural cavity).
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsThe most common cause of hemothorax is chest trauma. It can also occur in patients who have:
Your doctor may note decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side. Signs of hemothorax may be seen on the following tests:
TreatmentThe 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.
Expectations (prognosis)The outcome depends on the cause of the hemothorax and how quickly treatment is given.
ComplicationsCall 911 if you have:
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you have:
Use safety measures (such as seat belts) to avoid injury. Depending on the cause, a hemothorax may not be preventable.
ReferencesLight RW, Lee YCG. Pneumothorax, chylothorax, hemothorax, and fibrothorax. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus CV, Martin TR, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2010:chap 74.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 11/01/2010
Shabir Bhimji MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
Hemothorax refers to an accumulation of blood in the chest cavity. Bilateral hemothorax would indicate that blood was found on either side of the sternum.
Hemothorax is a medical term meaning blood in the chest cavity.
blood: hemothorax air: pneumothorax
A pneumothorax is a pocket of air in the chest cavity, and a hemothorax is a pocket of blood.
Hemothorax is a collection of blood in the space between the chest wall and the lung (the pleural cavity).
32551 - chest tube placement 860.2 - traumatic hemothorax 511.89 - spontaneous hemothroax
Blood
The suffix would be thorax. The chest
500
The medical term for the condition of blood in the chest cavity is hemothorax. This condition may result from trauma.
Pyothorax is an accumulation of pus in the pleural cavity. Hemothorax is an accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity.
Tube thoracostomy, includes water seal (eg, for abscess, hemothorax, empyema), when performed (separate procedure) (this is now CPT code 32551)