FreeMD® Hemothorax Definition

Hemothorax

Definition

Hemothorax Definition

Common names:

Bleeding Inside the Chest Wall
Bleeding Outside the Lung
Hemothorax

A person with a hemothorax has a collection of blood in the space between the inside the chest wall, and the outside of the lung.

A hemothorax is caused by bleeding from the lung or the inside of the chest wall. An injury to the chest is the most common cause for hemothorax.

Continue to Hemothorax Symptoms

Related Topics:

Aortic rupture
Chest injury
Difficulty breathing
Empyema
Myocardial contusion
Pulmonary contusion
Rib fracture
Traumatic pneumothorax
More...

Chest pain
Difficulty breathing

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Last Updated: Sep 5, 2008 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Hemothorax References:

Aihara R, Millham FH, Blansfield J, Hirsch EF. Emergency room thoracotomy for penetrating chest injury: effect of an institutional protocol. J Trauma. 2001 Jun;50(6):1027-30.
Ferguson M, Luchette FA. Management of blunt chest injury. Respir Care Clin N Am. 1996 Sep;2(3):449-66.
Nagy KK, Krosner SM, Roberts RR, Joseph KT, Smith RF, Barrett J. Determining which patients require evaluation for blunt cardiac injury following blunt chest trauma. World J Surg. 2001 Jan;25(1):108-11.
Sartorelli KH, Vane DW. The diagnosis and management of children with blunt injury of the chest. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2004 May;13(2):98-105.
Wanek S, Mayberry JC. Blunt thoracic trauma: flail chest, pulmonary contusion, and blast injury. Crit Care Clin. 2004 Jan;20(1):71-81.