[Morphological changes after lung trauma]

Post traumatic pleuro-pulmonary lesions can be divided into 3 phases: Acute phase I--several days to one week--with superficial pleuro-pulmonary defects as a main cause for pneumo-hematothorax, intrapulmonary hematoma from rhexis bleeding of parenchymal vessels, tearing of bronchi and vessels. Latency phase II--1-4 weeks with complications caused by inflammatory overlap, contusion pneumonia, development of fistulae, internal aspiration. Late phase III--1 month to years--special variant of rounded hematoma, pleural inflammation for example in fistulae up to scarring fibrosis. Inflammatory complications and development of ARDS with subsequent complications in the traumatically pre-damaged pulmonary organ.