Chronic haemothorax: an important cause of pleural effusion

Abstract

Abstract We describe a case of chronic exudative pleural effusion in a patient initially referred with anorexia, weight loss, and past history of breast cancer, following multiple presentations with chest pain and dyspnoea. Detailed history included past blunt thoracic trauma with pleural effusion drainage and anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation (AF). This case highlights several learning points for physicians around the management of thoracic trauma, anticoagulation for AF, and chronic haemothorax as an uncommon but important cause of exudative pleural effusion.

Keywords

• Anticoagulation
• chronic haemothorax
• haemothorax
• NOAC
• pleural effusion