Factors Associated With Successful Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Traumatic Hemothorax in Children: A...

Due to the rarity of traumatic hemothorax in children, no studies have evaluated factors associated with successful video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) as definitive management.

We conducted an exploratory cross-sectional analysis of pediatric patients in the Trauma Quality Programs database from 2008 to 2017 with traumatic hemothorax managed with primary VATS. Those with early resuscitative thoracotomy for cardiac arrest were excluded. We stratified patients by blunt or penetrating mechanism and estimated absolute differences (ADs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to identify factors associated with successful VATS without conversion to thoracotomy or reoperation.

A total of 293 patients were eligible. Among 184 penetrating injuries, 150 (82%) underwent successful VATS, 6 (3%) required reoperation, and 28 (15%) converted to thoracotomy. Diaphragmatic injuries (AD = -28, 95% CI = -46 to -10) and rib fractures (AD = 12, 95% CI = 1 to 23) had the strongest negative and positive associations (respectively) with successful VATS. There were 109 blunt injuries: 86 (79%) underwent successful VATS, 6 (6%) required reoperation, and 17 (16%) converted to thoracotomy. Moderate or severe head injury (AD = -15, 95% CI = -32 to 2), injury severity score >15 (AD = -19, 95% CI = -33 to -5), and the presence of diaphragmatic injury (AD = -38, 95% CI = -71 to -4) had the strongest negative associations with successful VATS.

Some children with traumatic hemothorax can be successfully managed with VATS. For penetrating mechanism, diaphragmatic injuries were associated with less success, while rib fractures were associated with more success. For blunt mechanism, diaphragmatic injuries, injury severity score >15, or moderate or severe head injury were associated with less success.