Delayed Hemothorax: Don’t miss it

Abstract

Abstract:Background: Delayed hemothorax is defined as a sequel that may ensue after 24 hours of blunt chest trauma. Accordingly, hospital admission and observation for at least 48 hours is endorsed to evade missing such sequel. Methods: We reviewed 44 patients who developed delayed hemothorax 24 hours after blunt chest trauma and having rib fractures admitted to Emergency Hospital, Mansoura University, Egypt from January 2011 to December 2014.Results: We included twenty-nine males (65.9%) and 15 females (34.1%) with mean age of 33.84 years. Right side hemothorax was encountered in 24 patients (54.54%). The causes of trauma were motor car accident in 56.8% and falling from height in 11% of cases. Rib displacement was identified in 52.2% of patients and exploratory thoracotomy was performed only in 4 patients (11.4%).Conclusions: Patients with displaced multiple fracture ribs and no hemothorax are at high risk of evolving delayed hemothorax, and they should be dealt with high degree of suspicion. Several days of observation and close follow up are mandatory.Key words: Hemothorax, Delayed, Fracture rib, Chest trauma.