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Delayed hemothorax following blunt thoracic trauma: a case report.
Astrid Carolina Álvarez-Ortega1, Alcibíades Aranda-Hoyos2, Jose Alejandro Posso-Nuñez1
1Clinical Research Center, Fundación Valle del Lili, Kra 98 No. 18 - 49, Cali, 760032, Colombia.
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery
|June 27, 2024
Summary
Late hemothorax, a rare complication of chest trauma, can occur significantly later than previously reported. This case highlights a delayed hemothorax 60 days post-injury, requiring intervention.
Area of Science:
- Trauma surgery
- Thoracic medicine
- Emergency medicine
Background:
- Late hemothorax is an uncommon sequela of blunt chest trauma.
- The previously documented longest interval between trauma and hemothorax onset was 44 days.
Observation:
- An elderly patient with rib fractures from chest trauma initially received closed thoracostomy.
- This patient developed a delayed hemothorax 60 days after the initial trauma management.
Findings:
- The delayed hemothorax necessitated both conservative management and subsequent surgical intervention.
- The patient's elderly status and associated complications influenced treatment decisions.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of sustained vigilance for delayed hemothorax in chest trauma patients.
- It highlights the potential need for surgical correction in complex or elderly patient presentations.
- The findings challenge the established timeline for hemothorax development after chest trauma.
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