Spontaneous hemothorax: a comprehensive review

From diagnosis to therapy: the acute traumatic hemothorax - an orientation for young surgeons

Introduction

This review aims to provide an overview of diagnosing and managing traumatic haemothorax for young surgeons.

Content

Of 27,333 polytrauma patients in Germany in 2021, 35 % were admitted with thoracic trauma. In polytrauma patients, chest injuries are an independent negative predictor of 30-day mortality. These patients should be treated in an evidence-based and standardized manner to reduce mortality and morbidity. There are several methods of immediate diagnosis that should be used depending on hemodynamic stability. In addition to physical examination and chest X-ray, more specific techniques such as the eFAST protocol and Computed tomography (CT) of the chest  are available. Once the source of bleeding has been identified, acute treatment is given depending on hemodynamic stability. Thoracic drainage remains the gold standard in the initial management of hemothorax. If surgery is required because of an active source of bleeding, a hemothorax that has not been completely relieved, or associated injuries, either a minimally invasive or open approach can be used. The main focus is to stabilize the patient and avoid early and late complications.

Summary and Outlook

Rapid and prompt diagnosis and management of traumatic hemothorax is essential for patient outcome and should be taught to all young surgeons who are in direct contact with these patients.

Rapid progressive spontaneous hemothorax caused by carcinoma of unknown primary: A very rare case

We present a very rare case of spontaneous hemothorax which was caused by carcinoma of unknown primary. To the best of our knowledge, there are no other such cases reported worldwide. The patient was 72-year-old male who was referred to our department for massive hemothorax. We undertook surgical treatment for haemostasis, and found multiple tumours which led to the diagnosis of carcinoma of unknown primary as the cause of haemorrhage. The tumours increased and grew rapidly after surgery and hemothorax progressed despite our treatment. The patient died from disseminated intravascular coagulation caused by continuous bleeding on postoperative day 19.

A Prospective Observational Study on the Outcome Assessment of Conservative Management Versus Intercostal Drainage (ICD) in Blunt Chest Injury Patients With ≤3 Rib Fractures in a North Indian Tertiary Care Center

Introduction Trauma is the third most common cause of death in all age groups. One out of four trauma patients die due to thoracic injury or its complications. Seventy percent of thoracic traumas are due to blunt injury. This indicates the importance of chest trauma among all traumas. Quick and precise assessment bears paramount importance in deciding life-saving and definitive management. Often, the initial management in blunt injury patients is based on subjective assessment by the attending clinician. A scoring system that provides early identification of the patients at the greatest risk for respiratory failure and more likely to require mechanical ventilation and require prolonged care, as well as those with a higher mortality risk, may allow the early institution of intervention to improve outcomes. Thoracic Trauma Severity Score (TTSS) poses to be a precise tool in directing the management modality to be employed. Methodology This was an observational study including 112 patients of age >12 years, with blunt chest injury, sustaining ≤3 rib fractures, and with a stable chest wall. The patients with penetrating injury, those with blunt chest injury having flail segment, patients in the pediatric age group (<12 years), or polytrauma patients were excluded from our study. Of the 112 patients, 56 had been managed by intercostal drainage (ICD), and the rest (56) had been managed conservatively. Result Road traffic accidents (RTA) were the most common mode of injury in both groups. The percentage of the patients with one, two, and three rib fractures was 57.14%, 32.14%, and 10.71%, respectively, in the ICD group and 85.71%, 7.14%, and 7.14%, respectively, in the conservative management group (p = 0.124). The mean TTSS score was significantly more in the ICD group as compared to the conservative management group in the single rib fracture patients (p = 0.001*), as well as all patients of any number of rib fractures (p < 0.01*) (significance was defined as a value of p less than 0.05 {indicated by an asterisk}). The mean hospital stay was significantly lower in the conservative group as compared to the ICD group (p < 0.01*). The mean SF-36 (outcome) was significantly more in the conservative management group as compared to the ICD group (p = 0.020*). The mean cost of treatment was significantly more in the ICD group as compared to the conservative management group (p < 0.001*). Conclusion In our study, a TTSS (as measured by the primary care surgeon) of >7, across any number of rib fractures, was preferably predictive of management by ICD, while a <7 value was favorable for conservative management. TTSS can be used as an important tool to predict the management modality in blunt chest injury patients with ≤3 rib fractures.

Management of hemorrhagic pleural effusion with intrapleural streptokinase in a patient on peritoneal dialysis and dual antiplatelet therapy

Key Clinical Message

Intrapleural streptokinase can be an option for loculated hemorrhagic pleural effusion among patients receiving CAPD and under DAPT. Its use can be individualized based on risk benefit analysis by the treating clinician.

Abstract

Pleural effusion is seen in up to 10 percent of patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). A hemorrhagic pleural effusion is a diagnostic dilemma and a therapeutic challenge. We report a complicated case of 67 years old man with end stage renal disease, with coronary artery disease and stent in situ under dual antiplatelet therapy and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The patient presented with left-sided loculated hemorrhagic pleural effusion. He was managed with intrapleural streptokinase therapy. His loculated effusion resolved without any local and systemic bleeding manifestations. Therefore, in poor resource settings, Intrapleural streptokinase can be an option for loculated hemorrhagic pleural effusion among patients receiving CAPD and under DAPT. Its use can be individualized based on risk benefit analysis by the treating clinician.

Case report: Spontaneous hemothorax following anticoagulation for microthrombi in severe COVID pneumonia

Background

Anticoagulant therapy has become a hallmark of treatment for critically ill COVID patients. Gastrointestinal and intracranial hemorrhage are known major complications of anticoagulation, but spontaneous hemothorax is a rare event, particularly in the absence of pre-existing structural lung disease, vascular malformations, or genetic bleeding diatheses. Herein is a case of spontaneous hemothorax following anticoagulation for microthrombi in a patient with acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to Covid pneumonia.

Case presentation

A 49 year old male with hypertension, asthma, and obesity was admitted for acute hypoxic respiratory failure due to Covid pneumonia. He was treated with dexamethasone, baricitinib, and therapeutic enoxaparin as empiric therapy for severe COVID disease. He subsequently developed a massive right hemothorax with associated hemorrhagic shock, which required initiation of massive transfusion protocol, vasopressor support and mechanical ventilation. No clear etiology for the hemothorax was determined upon investigations. The patient eventually improved and was discharged to a skilled nursing facility on chronic oxygen therapy.

Conclusions

Various mechanisms have been proposed for the development of non-traumatic hemothoraces, including tearing of adhesions and rupture of vascularized bullae. Such explanations find support in radiologic and pathologic studies of pleural changes in Covid pneumonia, and likely played a role in the hemorrhage experienced by our patient.

Spontaneous large volume hemothorax managed with a small-bore chest tube

A 67-year-old male with metastatic lung cancer presented with acute shortness of breath and increasing oxygen requirements. He had a decreasing hemoglobin for which he required red blood cell transfusions. His chest X-ray showed near complete white-out of the left lung. Bedside ultrasound (Handheld Sonostar C4PL) showed a large pleural effusion with swirling echogenic material suggestive of plankton sign. The pleural effusion was aspirated and showed frank blood, after which a small-bore chest tube (SBCT) was inserted. A total of 3200 mL of blood was drained with the SBCT. There was complete clearance of the pleural space, and no further blood product transfusions were needed. This case highlights that conservative management can be considered in patients with spontaneous hemothorax due to metastatic disease.

Obstructive shock due to a spontaneous haemothorax caused by primary lung cancer

We describe the case of a 67-year-old man with shock and hypoxemia. Chest X-ray showed bilateral lung mass shadows and left pleural effusion with a mediastinal shift, suggesting malignancy. Physical examination and point-of-care ultrasound findings did not suggest obstructive or cardiac shock, but the patient had prolonged shock refractory to fluid and blood transfusion therapy. We inserted a drain into the left thoracic cavity, which enabled the patient to recover from shock. We diagnosed the patient with obstructive and hypovolemic shock due to spontaneous haemothorax caused by primary lung cancer. Tension haemothorax due to malignancy is rare, and when obstructive shock is combined with haemorrhagic shock, it can be very difficult to determine the cause of shock.

Spontaneous hemothorax in a 48-year-old man with COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome

A 48-year-old man presented with gradually worsening dyspnea three days after testing positive for COVID-19. He was admitted to the intensive care unit on maximum high flow nasal cannula settings and subsequently intubated for hypoxic respiratory failure due to COVID-19 pneumonia. Two weeks into the patient's hospital course, he unexpectedly developed worsening hypotension with multiple vasopressor requirements. Labs revealed an unexpected hemoglobin drop from 12.5 to 7.9 g/dL. Chest radiograph showed near complete opacification of the right hemithorax concerning for hemothorax. This case presentation describes a rare phenomenon of spontaneous hemothorax in a patient with COVID-19.

Spontaneous hemothorax in pregnant patient with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation

We present a case of a 34-year-old pregnant patient at 26 weeks' gestation by in vitro fertilization with past medical history of hypertension and infertility who presented to the hospital with abdominal pain. The patient stated her pain was in her left upper quadrant. The morning before arriving to the hospital the patient stated she woke up at 0300 with increasingly severe pain in the same area. A computed tomography angiogram of the chest demonstrated a left-sided pulmonary arteriovenous malformation with adjacent complex left effusion on chest suspicious for a hemothorax. The hemothorax was thought to be brought about by rupture of the arteriovenous malformation with likely intermittent small volume hemorrhages into the pleural space. Thoracic Surgery and Interventional radiology (IR) were each consulted for management of the arteriovenous malformation. Due to the patient's stable hemodynamic status and concern that an invasive procedure might enable a larger rupture and more substantial hemorrhage, the decision was made for embolization of the arteriovenous malformation.

Special Procedures for Pulmonary Disease in the Emergency Department

In the emergency department, there are infrequent but essential procedures related to pulmonary diseases that emergency physicians must be able to perform. These include thoracentesis, chest tube thoracostomy, tracheostomy manipulation, and fiberoptic intubation.

Hemorrhagic shock caused by preoperative computed tomography-guided microcoil localization of lung nodules: a case report

Background

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is an emerging technology in minimally invasive surgery, which has become recognized as standard treatments for early-stage lung cancer. Microcoil localization is considered to be a safe and effective way of preoperative localization, and is essential to facilitate VATS wedge-resection for lung nodules.

Case presentation

Here we report a rare case of a 28-year-old female who developed hemorrhagic shock caused by delayed pneumothorax after preoperative computed tomography (CT)-guided microcoil localization. The thoracic CT revealed hydropneumothorax in the right thoracic cavity at 10 h after microcoil localization, and the patient later had significant decreased hemoglobin level (87 g/L). Emergency thoracoscopic exploration demonstrated that the hemorrhagic shock was induced by delayed pneumothorax, which led to the fracture of an adhesive pleura cord and an aberrant vessel. Electrocoagulation hemostasis was then performed for the fractured vessel and the patient gradually recovered from the hypovolemic shock.

Conclusions

Microcoil localization is a relatively safe and effective way of preoperative localization of lung nodules, however, hemorrhagic shock could be induced by rupture of pleural aberrant vessels subsequent to puncture related pneumothorax. Shorten the time interval between localization and thoracoscopic surgery, extend the monitoring time after localization might help to reduce the risk of these complications.

The Frequency, Risk Factors and Management of Complications from Pleural Procedures

Pleural disease is a common presentation and spans a heterogenous population across broad disease entities but a common feature is the requirement for interventional procedures. Despite the frequency of such procedures, there is little consensus on rates of complications and risk factors associated with such complications. Here follows a narrative review based on a structured search of the literature. Searches were limited to 2010 onwards, in recognition of the sea-change in procedural complications following the mainstream use of thoracic ultrasound (US). Procedures of interest were limited to thoracocentesis, intercostal drains (ICD), indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) and local anaesthetic thoracoscopy (LAT). 4308 studies were screened, to identify 48 studies for inclusion. Iatrogenic pneumothorax (PTX) remains the commonest complication following thoracocentesis: 3.3% (95% CI, 3.2-3.4), though PTX requiring intervention was rare: 0.3% (95% CI, 0.2-0.4) when the procedure was US guided. Drain blockage and displacement are the commonest complications following ICD insertion (6.3%, and 6.8%, respectively). IPC related infections can be a significant problem: 5.8% (95% CI, 5.1-6.7), however most cases can be managed without removal of the IPC. LAT has an overall mortality of 0.1% (95% CI, 0.03-0.3). Data on safety and complication rates in procedural interventions are limited by methodological problems and novel methods to study this topic bears consideration. Whilst complications remain rare events, once encountered, they have the potential to rapidly escalate. It is of paramount importance for operators to prepare and have in place plans for such events, to ensure high quality and above all, safe care.

Spontaneous hemothorax caused by concomitant low-dose rivaroxaban and itraconazole in a 95-year-old patient: case report and literature review

Although direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) decrease the bleeding risk compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), DOACs might cause spontaneous hemothorax in very elderly patients, even at a very low dose. Interactions between drugs might increase the risk of bleeding. In this article, we report a case of a 95-year-old man who developed spontaneous hemothorax while taking rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily, 3 days after concomitant use of itraconazole. Rivaroxaban was discontinued, and thoracentesis was performed to drain grossly bloody pleural effusion. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of spontaneous hemothorax that might have been caused by concomitant low-dose rivaroxaban and azole anti-fungal agents. This case highlights the potential risk of spontaneous hemothorax in very elderly patients while taking rivaroxaban and azole anti-fungal agents simultaneously. Special attention should be paid to interactions between drugs that might increase the risk of bleeding. Drugs that have competing metabolic pathways should be avoided. Closer monitoring, including testing for anti-Xa and additional reassessment, should be considered in high-risk patients.

Management of complex pleural disease in the critically ill patient

Disorders of the pleural space are quite common in the critically ill patient. They are generally associated with the underlying illness. It is sometimes difficult to assess for pleural space disorders in the ICU given the instability of some patients. Although the portable chest X-ray remains the primary modality of diagnosis for pleural disorders in the ICU. It can be nonspecific and may miss subtle findings. Ultrasound has become a useful tool to the bedside clinician to aid in diagnosis and management of pleural disease. The majority of pleural space disorders resolve as the patient’s illness improves. There remain a few pleural processes that need specific therapies. While uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions do not have their own treatments. Those that progress to become a complex infected pleural space can have its individual complexity in therapy. Chest tube drainage remains the cornerstone in therapy. The use of intrapleural fibrinolytics has decreased the need for surgical referral. A large hemothorax or pneumothorax in patients admitted to the ICU represent medical emergencies and require emergent action. In this review we focus on the management of commonly encountered complex pleural space disorders in critically ill patients such as complicated pleural space infections, hemothoraces and pneumothoraces.

Rare findings of spontaneous hemothorax and small subpleural lung hematoma in a COVID-19 patient: A case report

Hemothorax (HT) and pulmonary hematoma represent rare complications of anticoagulant therapy. We present a rare case of a 53-year-old man with COVID-19 pneumonia who showed, in a follow-up computed tomography (CT) scan 13 days after hospitalization, a left HT and a small hyperdense area in a subpleural location and compatible with a small subpleural hematoma. This patient was being treated with a subcutaneous administration of low-molecular-weight heparin (100UI/kg/BID). No vascular malformations were visualized on the CT pulmonary angiography. Herein, we report the first case of both a spontaneous HT and a lung subpleural hematoma in a COVID-19 patient, probably caused by anticoagulant therapy.

Use of Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy in a Trapped Lung following Acute Traumatic Haemothorax

Retained haemothorax is a common sequela of traumatic haemothorax and refers to blood that cannot be drained from the pleural cavity. We report a case of trapped lung secondary to retained haemothorax in a patient who sustained a penetrating chest injury. Initial chest computed tomography (CT) showed a large haemothorax that was managed with an intercostal drain insertion (ICD). Repeat chest CT and thoracic ultrasonography performed after ICD removal showed an organized pleural space resembling haematoma. ICD was reinserted with administration of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IPFT). Subsequent chest CT showed the development of a pleural rind and trapped lung. A second ICD was inserted, and further IPFT were administered together with aggressive negative pressure suction. Haemoglobin remained stable. The patient made a full recovery and imaging performed two weeks later showed minor blunting of the costophrenic angle. This case highlights the feasibility and safety of IPFT in the management of trapped lung associated with traumatic retained haemothorax as an alternative to surgery.

Intrapleural fibrinolysis in acute non-traumatic retained haemothorax

Haemothorax is an accumulation of blood in the pleural space. Retained haemothorax refers to blood that cannot be drained from the pleural cavity and is associated with an increased risk of empyema and fibrothorax often necessitating surgical evacuation. We describe our experience of using intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy in three patients with different bleeding risk and acute non-traumatic retained haemothorax. The first was a 41-year-old female with disseminated Candida guilliermondii sepsis and an iatrogenic haemothorax, second was a 48-year-old female with transfusion-dependent acute myeloid leukaemia and spontaneous haemothorax, and the third was a 72-year-old female with spontaneous haemothorax from newly diagnosed lung cancer. All patients received one to two doses of intrapleural alteplase without any bleeding complications and resolution of retained haemothorax. This case series demonstrates the successful application and safety of this approach as an alternative to surgery in a well-resourced environment with close monitoring and ready access to blood transfusion.

Extraction of pulmonary Trachea by dynamic tubular edge contour algorithm

Background

One of the difficulties and hot topics in the field of computer vision and image processing is extraction of the high-level pulmonary trachea from patients’ lung CT images. Current, common bronchial extraction methods are limited by the phenomenon of bronchial loss and leakage, and cannot extract the higher-level pulmonary trachea, which does not meet the requirements of guiding lung puncture procedures.

Methods

Based on the characteristic “tubular structure” (ring or semi-closed ring) of the pulmonary trachea in CT images, an algorithm based on dynamic tubular edge contour is proposed. In axial, coronal and sagittal CT images, the algorithm could extract the skeletal line of the pulmonary trachea and vessel-connecting region, perform elliptical fitting, extract the pulmonary trachea by the ratio of the ellipse’s long and short axes, and obtain point cloud data of the pulmonary trachea in three directions. The point cloud data was fused to obtain a complete three-dimensional model of the pulmonary trachea.

Results

The algorithm was verified using CT data from “EXACT09”, and could extract the pulmonary trachea to the 10–11 level, which effectively solves the problems of leakage and loss of the trachea.

Conclusions

We have constructed a novel extraction algorithm of pulmonary trachea that can guide the doctors to decide the puncture path and avoid the large trachea, which has important theoretical and practical significance for reducing puncture complications and the mortality rate.

Isolated thoracic duct injury from blunt force trauma

Isolated thoracic duct injury is an uncommon clinical event and is rare in the setting of trauma. We describe a case of an isolated thoracic duct injury resulting in the development of bilateral chylothorax following a motor vehicle collision in the absence of any other definable injury. We outline the initial patient presentation and diagnosis. After failing a trial of conservative management the patient underwent lymphangiography followed by thoracic duct ligation with pleurodesis. This case highlights the importance of recognizing thoracic duct injury following trauma.

Blunt trauma related chest wall and pulmonary injuries: An overview

Physical traumas are tragic and multifaceted injuries that suddenly threaten life. Although it is the third most common cause of death in all age groups, one out of four trauma patients die due to thoracic injury or its complications. Blunt injuries constitute the majority of chest trauma. This indicates the importance of chest trauma among all traumas. Blunt chest trauma is usually caused by motor vehicle accident, falling from height, blunt instrument injury and physical assault. As a result of chest trauma, many injuries may occur, such as pulmonary injuries, and these require urgent intervention. Chest wall and pulmonary injuries range from rib fractures to flail chest, pneumothorax to hemothorax and pulmonary contusion to tracheobronchial injuries. Following these injuries, patients may present with a simple dyspnea or even respiratory arrest. For such patient, it is important to understand the treatment logic and to take a multidisciplinary approach to treat the pulmonary and chest wall injuries. This is because only 10% of thoracic trauma patients require surgical operation and the remaining 90% can be treated with simple methods such as appropriate airway, oxygen support, maneuvers, volume support and tube thoracostomy. Adequate pain control in chest trauma is sometimes the most basic and best treatment. With definite diagnosis, the morbidity and mortality can be significantly reduced by simple treatment methods.

Tension Hemopneumothorax in the Setting of Mechanical CPR during Prehospital Cardiac Arrest

INTRODUCTION

There are several complications associated with automated mechanical CPR (AM-CPR), including tension pneumothoraces. The incidence of these complications and the risk factors for their development remain poorly characterized. Tension hemopneumothorax is a previously unreported complication of AM-CPR. The authors present a case of a suspected tension hemopneumothorax that developed during the use of an automated mechanical CPR device. Case Description: A 67 year-old woman with a history of COPD and CABG was observed by an off-duty firefighter to be slumped behind the wheel of an ice cream truck that drifted off the road at a low rate of speed and was stopped by a wooden fence, resulting in only minor paint scratches. The patient was found to be in cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm. No signs of trauma were noted, and equal bilateral breath sounds were present with BVM ventilation. After 13 minutes of manual CPR, fire department personnel applied their Defibtech LifeLine ARM mechanical CPR device to the patient. During resuscitation, the device had to be repositioned twice due to rightward piston migration off of the sternum. Seven minutes after AM-CPR application, the patient had absent right-sided breath sounds and ventilations were more difficult. Needle decompression was performed with an audible release of air. A chest tube was placed by an EMS physician and roughly 400 mL of blood were immediately returned. At the next 2-minute pulse check, ROSC was noted, and the patient was transported to the hospital. She had an ischemic EKG and elevated troponin. Chest CT showed emphysematous lungs, bilateral rib fractures, and a small right-sided pneumothorax. Despite aggressive measures, the patient's condition gradually worsened, and she died 48 hours after presentation. Discussion/Conclusion: Migration of AM-CPR device pistons may contribute to the development of iatrogenic injuries such as hemopneumothoraces. Patients with underlying lung disease may be at a higher risk of developing pneumothoraces or hemopneumothoraces during the course of AM-CPR. Awareness of these potential complications may aid first responders by improving vigilance of piston location and by providing quicker recognition of iatrogenic injuries that need immediate attention to improve the opportunity for ROSC.

Nontraumatic warfarin-related intrapulmonary hemorrhage presenting as a lung mass

Background

Although bleeding events are the major concern when using oral anticoagulants, intrathoracic hemorrhages due to warfarin are rare. Most cases in the literature have been related to trauma and have manifested as a hemothorax. Here we report a case of a nontraumatic hemorrhage within a pre-existing pulmonary cyst that presented as a lung mass during warfarin therapy.

Case presentation

A 75-year-old asymptomatic woman presented with a 10-cm-diameter mass on chest radiography that was not evident 6 months prior. She had been taking warfarin for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and a transient ischemic attack. There was no history of chest trauma, warfarin overdosing, or any suspected interactions with other drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics. The prothrombin time/international normalized ratio(PT-INR) was prolonged at 4.73 and her hemoglobin level was 8.7 g/dl. Chest computed tomography(CT)revealed an air-fluid mass adjacent to the right upper and middle lobes with a pleural effusion. A CT scan obtained 15 years prior revealed a cyst at the corresponding site and the mass was diagnosed as a warfarin-related hemorrhage within the pre-existing pulmonary cyst. We performed a surgical resection of the cyst to prevent any worsening hemorrhage and subsequent infection. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 3rd postoperative day.

Conclusion

A warfarin-related thoracic hemorrhage, other than a hemothorax, could manifest as a pulmonary mass on radiography in patients with pre-existing pulmonary cysts. History taking especially of any anticoagulant medications and a precise assessment of the past images are crucial for a correct diagnosis. Once the intrapulmonary cystic hemorrhage becomes evident, prompt withdrawal with a reversal of warfarin and surgical resection are required to prevent a worsening hemorrhage and subsequent infection.

A case of rivaroxaban associated spontaneous hemothorax

New oral anticoagulants have emerged as an alternative for warfarin for thromboembolic prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Although new oral anticoagulants have better compliance and safety margin compared to warfarin, we must be cautious with their usage. In this article, we report a case of spontaneous hemothorax related to rivaroxaban treatment. According to our research, this is the first case of spontaneous hemothorax secondary to rivaroxaban treatment.

Hemothorax: A Review of the Literature

Hemothorax is a collection of blood in the pleural cavity usually from traumatic injury. Chest X-ray has historically been the imaging modality of choice upon arrival to the hospital. The sensitivity and specificity of point-of-care ultrasound, specifically through the Extended Focal Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (eFAST) protocol has been significant enough to warrant inclusion in most Level 1 trauma centers as an adjunct to radiographs.^1,2 If the size or severity of a hemothorax warrants intervention, tube thoracostomy has been and still remains the treatment of choice. Most cases of hemothorax will resolve with tube thoracostomy. If residual blood remains within the pleural cavity after tube thoracostomy, it is then considered to be a retained hemothorax, with significant risks for developing late complications such as empyema and fibrothorax. Once late complications occur, morbidity and mortality increase dramatically and the only definitive treatment is surgery. In order to avoid surgery, research has been focused on removing a retained hemothorax before it progresses pathologically. The most promising therapy consists of fibrinolytics which are infused into the pleural space, disrupting the hemothorax, allowing for further drainage. While significant progress has been made, additional trials are needed to further define the dosing and pharmacokinetics of fibrinolytics in this setting. If medical therapy and early procedures fail to resolve the retained hemothorax, surgery is usually indicated. Surgery historically consisted solely of thoracotomy, but has been largely replaced in non-emergent situations by video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS), a minimally invasive technique that shows considerable improvement in the patients' recovery and pain post-operatively. Should all prior attempts to resolve the hemothorax fail, then open thoracotomy may be indicated.

IgG4-related disease can present as recurrent spontaneous hemothorax: a case report

Background

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) encompasses a group of immune-mediated disorders that are gaining increasing recognition. Pulmonary presentations are common, with four types of patterns been described on radiography, including solid nodular, bronchovascular, ground glass opacities, and alveolar interstitial. Pleural thickening and pleural effusion have also been reported. However, there have been no reports of IgG4-RD that presents as spontaneous hemothorax.

Case presentation

A 61-year-old Chinese woman experienced recurrent right-sided chest pain and transient syncope. A significant decrease in her hemoglobin level and thick bloody pleural fluid demonstrated spontaneous hemothorax. The elevated serum IgG4 and histopathological analysis of the right pleura and intercostal lymph node specimens all supported the diagnosis of IgG4-RD in this patient. Further diagnostic evaluation did not reveal other causes for spontaneous hemothorax. She received steroids and no recurrent bleeding event occurred during a follow-up period of more than 1 year.

Conclusion

Recurrent spontaneous hemothorax can be a rare manifestation of IgG4-RD, with pleural involvement as the most probable mechanism.

[Spontaneous haemothorax - thoracic surgeon and intervention radiologist successful cooperation]

The definition of spontaneous haemothorax is accumulation of blood within the pleural space without trauma or iatrogenic causes. A case of a 17-year-old male patient with a history of multiple abnormal arterial fistulas between systemic circulation and pulmonary circulation as a cause of bleeding is presented. An overview of the causes, the clinical features of haemothorax and the interventional radiological methods that can solve some causes of haemothorax are presented in connection of our case report.

Severe haemophilia A in a neonate presenting as haemopneumothorax after tracheo-oesophageal fistula-oesophageal atresia repair

A male infant with oesophageal atresia and distal tracheo-oesophageal fistula (TEF type C) underwent right thoracotomy and transpleural repair of TEF on day 4 of life. He did not have a family history of coagulation disorders. A preoperative finding of prolonged partial thromboplastin time (PTT)>200 s was overlooked, and he went to surgery. There were no concerns with haemostasis prior to and even during the operation. The prolonged PTT was treated with one 10 mL/kg dose of fresh frozen plasma in the immediate postoperative period. On the fourth postoperative day, the infant developed a right haemopneumothorax, requiring fresh frozen plasma and packed cell transfusions. He was subsequently diagnosed with severe haemophilia A due to intron 22 inversion in the factor VIII gene, with factor VIII level <0.01 IU/mL.

Massive idiopathic spontaneous hemothorax complicating anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis: A case report

RATIONALE

Spontaneous hemothorax is a subcategory of hemothorax which can be life threatening. The etiology of spontaneous hemothorax can be various, and in some rare cases the causes remained unknown. Hence, it is quite difficult to establish the diagnosis. Here, we report a case of spontaneous hemothorax in a young female patient who was recently diagnosed with anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis (anti-NMDAR encephalitis).

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 20-year-old female was transferred to emergency department of our hospital from local hospital presented with insomnia, mood lability, tonic-clonic seizure, and decreased level of consciousness.

DIAGNOSES

The diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis was established by detection of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum antibodies to the NMDA receptor. During the hospital stay, the patient developed massive spontaneous hemothorax and was confirmed by closed-tube thoracostomy.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

Video-assisted thoracotomy was performed to evacuate the blood clots and also to obtain pleural biopsy specimen for diagnostic evaluation. However, the reason of hemothorax remained idiopathic. The postoperative status of this patient was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 45 as her mental status improved markedly.

LESSONS

In this case, the patient had both anti- NMDAR encephalitis and autoimmune thyroid disease. Based on it, we suspected that the patient subjected to severe autoimmune response and inflammatory reaction, which might explain the pathologic changes of parietal pleura and visceral pleura. We recommend the suspicion of spontaneous hemothorax should be considered when the patients with autoimmune diseases present with hemorrhage-related signs or symptoms.

Massive Spontaneous Hemothorax as a Complication of Apixaban Treatment

INTRODUCTION

Hemothorax is usually related to chest or iatrogenic trauma from procedures such as central lines and thoracentesis. Spontaneous hemothorax is defined as pleural fluid hematocrit greater than 50% of serum hematocrit in absence of natural or iatrogenic trauma affecting the lung or pleural space. Coagulopathy secondary to anticoagulant use has been associated with spontaneous hemothorax. We present a case of spontaneous hemothorax in a patient taking apixaban for venous thromboembolism disease. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of apixaban as a cause of spontaneous hemothorax.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 56-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was diagnosed with upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) one month prior to presentation and was started on apixaban presented with dyspnea and left-sided pleuritic chest pain for two weeks. She was found to have left-sided large pleural effusion which was diagnosed as hemothorax. Other etiologies for spontaneous hemothorax were excluded and drainage by 12-French pigtail catheter achieved total resolution of hemothorax in three days.

DISCUSSION

Apixaban is a DOAC used to prevent stroke or thromboembolic events in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and to prevent recurrent venous thromboembolic disease. Events such as gastrointestinal, intracranial, and soft tissue bleeding have been well-documented. However, bleeding manifestation as hemothorax is seldom reported. Our patient presented with isolated left-sided large pleural effusion which was diagnosed as spontaneous hemothorax. 12-Fr pigtail catheter drainage was effective in the management of our patient and provided total resolution in three days.

CONCLUSION

Spontaneous hemothorax is a rare complication of anticoagulant therapy and might not exhibit the usual radiological signs of traumatic hemothorax. Health care providers should have high index of suspicion for spontaneous hemothorax when evaluating new pleural effusion in patients receiving DOACs therapy. Drainage by small bore pigtail catheter might be as effective as larger chest tubes.

A case of lung herniation with hemothorax in a patient with asthma and atrial fibrillation

A 83 years old man was admitted to acute medical unit for mild asthma exacerbation. He also had atrial fibrillation and was on dabigatran. A mass on left upper chest wall was incidentally found. There were bruises over left posterolateral aspect of chest wall. Chest X-ray showed left pleural effusion. Diagnostic tap yielded blood-stained fluid. Computer tomography showed left lung herniation. Cardiothoracic surgery team unit was consulted. Reduction of lung herniation and patch repair of chest wall defect was done.

Multiple-site bleeding at pleural adhesions and massive hemothorax following percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation: A case report

An elderly male patient with coronary heart disease underwent coronary angiography, which revealed bilateral severe coronary artery stenosis. Four stents were implanted, and at 5 h post-surgery, typical hemorrhagic shock appeared. Echocardiography verified heavy bleeding in the right thoracic cavity. Emergency angiography excluded injury or perforation of the coronary artery, aorta, right subclavian artery and brachiocephalic artery. Considering the patient's history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe cough during the operation, it was suspected that hemothorax was induced by a blood vessel rupture in the pleura. Video-assisted thoracic examination confirmed the tearing of pleural adhesion bands and bleeding at three sites in the pulmonary pleura and parietal pleura. According to the reported case, bleeding as a result of the laceration of pleural adhesions is an important cause of hemothorax that should be considered after exclusion of other common causes of pleural hemorrhage.

Dabigatran-Induced Massive Spontaneous Hemothorax

Spontaneous hemothorax due to anticoagulant use is extremely rare in clinical practice. Dabigatran is a novel anticoagulant to prevent stroke or thromboembolic episodes in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. We report on an 83-year-old man who received dabigatran therapy (110 mg twice daily) for 7 months and developed massive spontaneous hemothorax and acute renal failure. The patient was admitted to the hospital with complaint of a dull ache in the chest and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography scan revealed massive pleural effusion in the left hemithorax with atelectasis. Acute renal failure was observed 4 days later after admission. Almost 2500 mL of blood was repeatedly drained by ultrasound-guided thoracocentesis, followed by a dramatic decrease in serum red blood cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit. After excluding other possible causes, diagnostic withdrawal was performed for dabigatran, and plasma transfusion was conducted to supply the lost blood volume. A causal relationship was established, because the patient's renal function gradually improved and no further pleural effusion developed after dabigatran was discontinued. This is a rare case report of massive spontaneous hemothorax caused by dabigatran. Therefore, practitioners should be aware of hemothorax as a potential complication of dabigatran therapy.

Spontaneous massive hemopneumothorax: Double trouble with a twist

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax (SHP) is observed in 3%–7% cases of spontaneous pneumothorax where the tear of an adhesion can lead to bleeding with associated hemothorax. This condition has been reported in patients with hemophilia, sarcoidosis, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc., Here, we describe an unusual case of acute massive SHP in a 62-year-old male who underwent a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and presented with worsening dyspnea over the next 3 days. On evaluation, he had a massive hemopneumothorax which was considered to be secondary to the use of anticoagulants during the PTCA procedure. Pleural fluid analysis revealed frank blood and was consistent with the diagnosis of hemothorax. Surprisingly, the pleural fluid cytology revealed malignant cells. As the patient had a normal chest X-ray 3 days ago, thoracoscopic pleural biopsy was taken which confirmed the diagnosis of an epithelioid mesothelioma. Although post-PTCA or mesothelioma-associated hemothorax has been rarely reported, these two conditions have not been associated with SHP. Since the patient had no prior clinicoradiological features of mesothelioma, the procedure, and the anticoagulants probably contributed to the massive and rapid accumulation of blood. The presence of small amount of air added further confusion to the dual etiology and has not been described earlier.

Intrapleural Fibrinolytic Therapy for Residual Coagulated Hemothorax After Lung Surgery

BACKGROUND

Many studies have described the use of intrapleural fibrinolytics for the treatment of complex pleural processes and traumatic hemothorax, but data are scarce regarding their use for hemothorax after lung surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the utility of intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy with urokinase for residual coagulated hemothorax (blood clot accumulation in the pleural cavity) after lung surgery.

METHODS

From July 2009 to November 2013, 46 patients (33 males; mean age, 56.9 ± 10.7 years) were treated with intrapleural urokinase (250,000 IU per dose) for residual hemothorax after lung surgery. Complete response was defined as clinical improvement with complete drainage of the retained collection shown by chest X-ray, and partial response as substantial resolution with minimal residual opacity (<25 % of the thorax). Follow-up was at least 30 days.

RESULTS

The procedure was successful in 42 patients (91.3 %), with complete response observed in 35/46 patients (76.1 %) and partial response in 7/46 (15.2 %). These 42 patients did not require re-intervention for fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity. Treatment failed in 4 patients (8.7 %): one developed bronchopleural fistula that later resolved spontaneously and three (6.5 %) required thoracoscopic drainage for pleural cavity fluid accumulation and lung collapse. No patient required thoracotomy for total decortication. Intrapleural urokinase administration was not associated with serious adverse events, including bleeding complications or allergic reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Intrapleural fibrinolytic agents should be considered a useful therapeutic option for the treatment of postoperative residual hemothorax. This method appears to be safe and effective in >90 % of patients with postoperative hemothorax.

[Spontaneous hemothorax revealing Wegener's vasculitis in a pregnant woman]

Spontaneous hemothorax is a rare condition. Its causes are multiple but sometimes they remain unknown. In some patients, thoracotomy may be the only means to determine hemothorax origin. Vasculitis have not been reported as a common cause of spontaneous hemothorax. Pregnancy does not appear to have causal or aggravating effect on spontaneous hemothorax or on vasculitis. We here report the peculiar case of a young patient presenting during pregnancy with spontaneous hemothorax secondary to Wegener's vasculitis. The latter was diagnosed by pleural biopsy performed during exploratory thoracotomy and confirmed by ANCA assays.

A massive haemothorax as an unusual complication of infective endocarditis caused by Streptococcus sanguinis

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE

Infective endocarditis involving the tricuspid valve is an uncommon condition, and a consequent haemothorax associated with pulmonary embolism is extremely rare. Particularly, there are no guidelines for the management of this complication. We describe a rare case of pulmonary embolism and infarction followed by a haemothorax due to infective endocarditis of the tricuspid valve caused by Streptococcus sanguinis.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

A 25-year-old man with a ventricular septal defect (VSD) presented with fever. On physical examination, his body temperature was 38.8 °C, and a grade III holosystolic murmur was heard. A chest X-ray did not reveal any specific findings. A transoesophageal echocardiogram showed a perimembranous VSD and echogenic material attached to the tricuspid valve. All blood samples drawn from three different sites yielded growth of pan-susceptible S. sanguinis in culture bottles. On day 12 of hospitalization, the patient complained of pleuritic chest pain without fever. Physical examination revealed reduced breathing sounds and dullness in the lower left thorax. On his chest computed tomography scan, pleural effusion with focal infarction and pulmonary embolism were noted on the left lower lung. Thoracentesis indicated the presence of a haemothorax.

INTERVENTION

Our case was successfully treated using antibiotic therapy alone with adjunctive chest tube insertion, rather than with anticoagulation therapy for pulmonary embolism or cardiac surgery.

CONCLUSION

When treating infective endocarditis caused by S. sanguinis, clinicians should include haemothorax in the differential diagnosis of patients complaining of sudden chest pain.

Case study: Idiopathic hemothorax in a patient with status asthmaticus

INTRODUCTION

Idiopathic spontaneous hemothorax has been rarely described in the literature.

CASE STUDY

A case of status asthmaticus and spontaneous hemothorax is described in a 29-year-old female of African descent who presented to the emergency room after 2 days of severe cough productive of yellow sputum, otalgia, sore throat, subjective fevers, chills, headache, progressive wheezing, chest tightness and dyspnea. She had a history of 7 years of asthma and was non-adherent with her controller asthma medications. Prophylactic subcutaneous administration of enoxaparin 40 milligrams was initiated upon hospitalization. The patient initially had a normal chest radiograph but subsequently developed a large, left hemothorax that required tube thoracostomy placement followed by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

RESULTS

The patient was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and tube thoracostomy resulted in evacuation of 1,400 milliliters of blood-like fluid, which had a pleural fluid hematocrit greater than 50% of the serum hematocrit. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest did not reveal any source for the bleeding and a technetium bone scan of the chest was normal. The patient required transfusion of 5 units of packed red blood cells. She was then taken to the operating room for VATS because of continued chest tube drainage (3,200 milliliters of fluid over a 48-hour period).

CONCLUSION

The etiology of the hemothorax was unknown despite surgical exploration but was felt to be secondary to cough and bronchospasm associated with status asthmaticus.

Identifying Malignant Pleural Effusion by A Cancer Ratio (Serum LDH: Pleural Fluid ADA Ratio)

Aim

We studied the diagnostic potential of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in malignant pleural effusion.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients hospitalized with exudative pleural effusion in 2013.

Results

Serum LDH and serum LDH: pleural fluid ADA ratio was significantly higher in cancer patients presenting with exudative pleural effusion. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, pleural fluid ADA was negatively correlated 0.62 (0.45–0.85, p = 0.003) with malignancy, whereas serum LDH 1.02 (1.0–1.03, p = 0.004) and serum LDH: pleural fluid ADA ratio 0.94 (0.99–1.0, p = 0.04) was correlated positively with malignant pleural effusion. For serum LDH: pleural fluid ADA ratio, a cut-off level of >20 showed sensitivity, specificity of 0.98 (95 % CI 0.92–0.99) and 0.94 (95 % CI 0.83–0.98), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio was 32.6 (95 % CI 10.7–99.6), while the negative likelihood ratio at this cut-off was 0.03 (95 % CI 0.01–0.15).

Conclusion

Higher serum LDH and serum LDH: pleural fluid ADA ratio in patients presenting with exudative pleural effusion can distinguish between malignant and non-malignant effusion on the first day of hospitalization. The cut-off level for serum LDH: pleural fluid ADA ratio of >20 is highly predictive of malignancy in patients with exudative pleural effusion (whether lymphocytic or neutrophilic) with high sensitivity and specificity.