[Surgical treatment of post-traumatic intrapulmonary haematomas]

In a 14-year period 18 patients with post-traumatic intrapulmonary haematomas (PIH) were diagnosed and treated in our departments. There were 14 men and 4 woman with mean age 42.1 year. The mean diameter of PIH was 7.5 cm and they were localized mainly in the left lower lobe. Three of the patients were successfully treated with conservative antibiotic and mucolytic therapy. The remaining 15 patients (83%) were operated on: lobectomy (7), segmental resection (2), extirpation with partial resection of the fibrous capsule and capitonnage (4) and total extirpation with fibrous capsule removal (2). Indications for surgery were as follows: infection, haemoptysis and suspicions of malignant lesion. The early and late results are excellent. We recommend the surgical approach to PIH as a safe and effective treatment.