Medical thoracoscopic cryoevacuation: A novel technique to manage retained hemothorax

Abstract

Hemothorax is an important complication of blunt trauma chest. The presentation may be delayed, especially in elderly patients with multiple rib fractures. Delayed presentation can be associated with retained hemothorax where a simple chest drain is often insufficient to evacuate the pleural cavity. Video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery is often used to manage such patients in a minimally invasive manner. Here, we demonstrate a novel application of flexi-rigid thoracoscopy with CryoProbe® for evacuation of retained hemothorax in an elderly woman through a subcentimeter incision.

Keywords

• Blunt trauma chest
• cryoextraction
• medical thoracoscopy
• retained hemothorax