Delayed massive hemothorax due to diaphragm injury with rib fracture: A case report

Hemothorax due to inferior phrenic artery injury from blunt trauma: a case series and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Hemothorax is a common complication of thoracic trauma, often associated with morbidity and mortality. While intercostal and internal mammary arteries are commonly involved, the inferior phrenic artery (IPA) is rarely the source of hemothorax following blunt trauma. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of IPA-related hemothorax by describing a single-center case series and to outline the characteristics and management of hemothorax secondary to IPA injury with a systematic review.

METHODS

We conducted a chart review of patients with trauma to identify patients with hemothorax due to IPA injury at a Japanese tertiary care hospital between 2013 and 2019. We performed a systematic review of published studies about this condition by searching PubMed, EMBASE, and ICHUSHI from their inception to January 18, 2025, summarizing their clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis.

RESULTS

Among 231 patients with hemothorax following blunt trauma, 3 (1.3%) were caused by IPA injury. The systematic review identified published articles for 16 additional reports, yielding 19 reports for analysis. IPA injury was typically diagnosed after 1 day to 3 weeks post-injury, with 94% of patients presenting with shock. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was the primary treatment, although many patients required additional interventions such as thoracotomy and hematoma evacuation. Complications included pneumonia, and the mortality rate was 11%.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemothorax due to IPA injury following blunt trauma may be rare and potentially life-threatening. While endovascular techniques such as TAE were effective in many cases, repeated bleeding and substantial hematoma necessitated repeat interventions or surgical procedures. Despite an overall favorable prognosis, significant risks for complications and mortality remained. Thus, early recognition and increased awareness of IPA injury in patients with trauma are essential for improving outcomes.

Delayed Tension Hemothorax With Nondisplaced Rib Fractures After Blunt Thoracic Trauma

Blunt thoracic trauma often causes rib fractures, hemothorax, and pneumothorax. Although there is no established definition regarding the duration and management of delayed hemothorax, it commonly occurs in a few days and exhibits at least one displaced rib fracture. Moreover, delayed hemothorax rarely develops tension hemothorax. A 58-year-old male who had a motorcycle accident received conservative treatment from his orthopedic doctor. He felt a sudden severe chest pain 19 days after the accident. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed multiple left-sided rib fractures without displacement, left pleural effusion, and extravasation near the intercostal space of the seventh rib fracture. After transfer to our hospital and a plain CT scan, which showed a more mediastinal shift toward the right, his condition deteriorated with cardiorespiratory embarrassment, such as restlessness, hypotension, and neck vein distention. We diagnosed him with obstructive shock due to tension hemothorax. Immediate chest drainage ameliorated restlessness and elevated blood pressure. Here, we report an extremely rare and atypical case of delayed tension hemothorax after blunt thoracic trauma without displaced rib fractures.

Successful artificial pneumothorax thoracoscopic repair of a right-sided diaphragmatic injury with hemothorax. A case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Right-sided blunt diaphragmatic injury (BDI) is rare and often missed initially. Recently, some studies reported increased use of minimally invasive repair. A case of unexplained hemothorax that led to early suspicion of right-sided BDI, which was confirmed by exploratory thoracoscopy with an artificial pneumothorax, and primary repair was completed, is presented.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 47-year-old woman had a moderate right hemothorax without rib fracture, vertebral fracture, or lung injury. A chest tube was inserted for the hemothorax, and approximately 470 mL of blood were evacuated initially. The right-sided BDI was not initially identified. Diagnostic thoracoscopy with an artificial pneumothorax confirmed diaphragmatic laceration. The liver was pushed back into the abdominal cavity with the use of the artificial pneumothorax. Primary closure of the diaphragmatic laceration was performed.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

We must consider that a hemothorax without a lung injury or a chest wall injury may be a BDI. Thoracoscopy contributes to identifying and repairing a diaphragmatic injury. Additionally, an artificial pneumothorax provided a good operative field and spontaneously reduced the liver into the abdominal cavity, which facilitates the thoracoscopic repair of BDI.

CONCLUSION

Unexplained hemothorax may be due to diaphragmatic injury, and exploratory thoracoscopy with an artificial pneumothorax may contribute to identifying and repairing a diaphragmatic injury.

A case of hemorrhagic shock due to intercostal artery injury that occurred during initial trauma care with multiple displaced rib fractures and traumatic head injury

Rib fractures can cause injury to some organs. We herein report a case of hemorrhagic shock due to intercostal artery injury that occurred during initial trauma care (ITC) treated by resuscitative thoracotomy (RT) and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with multiple displaced rib fractures (RFs) and traumatic head injury (THI). A man in his 50s who was injured in a traffic accident was transferred to our institution by helicopter for emergency medical treatment. He underwent left thoracic drainage on site. On admission, he was diagnosed with multiple RF, THI, pelvic fracture and right humerus fracture. His D-dimer and fibrin degradation products (FDP) level were extremely elevated. However, contrast enhance CT (CECT) revealed no extravasation. At 2 h after arrival, massive hemorrhaging from his thoracic tube suddenly occurred and his blood pressure decreased to approximately 40s mmHg. CECT performed after volume resuscitation and massive transfusion revealed extravasation from the intercostal artery. Because his blood pressure could not be maintained by massive transfusion, we performed RT and TAE followed by RT. He then received intensive care and several surgical procedures were performed, including craniotomy for removal of hematoma, rib fixation and humerus fixation. He was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation on day 63, with a GCS of 15. Hemorrhagic shock due to intercostal artery injury may occur at any time from arrival in cases with displaced RF, especially when complicated by THI.