[Intrapleural hemorrhage in closed chest trauma]

Four hundred and thirty nine sufferers were treated for closed thoracic trauma. Of them, 39 (8.9%) were operated on. Drainage of the pleural cavity was performed in 78 (17.7%) patients. In 2.1% of cases, clotted hemothorax was diagnosed. In 5 patients, thoracoscopic destruction of the clotted hemothorax was performed according to original technique. All the patients recovered.