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Published on: September 13, 2020
Role of Intercostal Artery Embolization in Management of Traumatic Hemothorax
Rahul Lohan1, Kheng Song Leow2, Marc Weijie Ong3
1Departments of Diagnostic Radiology, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore 768828, Singapore.
Intercostal artery bleeding from trauma can result in potentially fatal massive hemothorax. Traumatic hemothorax has traditionally been treated with tube thoracostomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, or thoracotomy. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), a well-established treatment option for a variety of acute hemorrhage is not widely practiced for the management of traumatic hemothorax. We present 2 cases of delayed massive hemothorax following chest trauma which were successfully managed by transarterial embolization of intercostal arteries. The published studies are reviewed and a systematic approach to the selection of patients for TAE versus emergency thoracotomy is proposed.
Intercostal artery bleeding from trauma can result in potentially fatal massive hemothorax. Traumatic hemothorax has traditionally been treated with tube thoracostomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, or thoracotomy. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), a well-established treatment option for a variety of acute hemorrhage is not widely practiced for the management of traumatic hemothorax. We present 2 cases of delayed massive hemothorax following chest trauma which were successfully managed by transarterial embolization of intercostal arteries. The published studies are reviewed and a systematic approach to the selection of patients for TAE versus emergency thoracotomy is proposed.
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