Delayed post-traumatic hemothorax

Abstract

Intrathoracic bleeding may occur following blunt chest trauma, and can be classified as minimal, moderate or massive, according to the amount of blood present. The diagnosis of hemothorax is established by clinical examination, plain chest radiograph or, more recently, by ultrasound of the chest [1]. Computed tomography of the chest helps to define the nature of the chest injury but is not indicated in all patients because of lack of availability, radiation dose and expense [2]. Significant intrathoracic bleeding following chest trauma going unrecognized for more than 2–3 days is highly unusual [3]. A trauma patient who presented with symptomatic massive hemothorax 12 days post-injury is herein reported.