Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation
Authors: Lui Sze Yee, Nurkhairulnizam Abd Halim, Ida Zaliza Zainol Abidin
Background: The incidence of delayed hemothorax from blunt chest trauma was only up to 7.4%, massive hemothorax being much rarer. Case Presentation: We report a case of this uncommon situation involving a 65-year old gentleman with alleged motor-vehicle accident (MVA) sustaining multiple right 2nd to 8th rib fractures. Despite initial in-patient monitoring, he presented to us again on Day-7 post-MVA with acute shortness of breath and chest pain. Chest radiograph showed homogenous opacity over right lung field with the blunting of costophrenic angle. Right thoracostomy tube drained 800 ml of frank blood upon insertion with a total of 1,250 ml within 12 hours. The patient was subsequently transferred to cardiothoracic center for definitive care. Conclusion: Therefore, the possibility of delayed sequelae following blunt chest trauma should be considered and communicated to the patient to encourage vigilance and home monitoring. Despite rarely requiring emergency surgery, delayed massive hemothorax is potentially life threatening.
Keywords: Traffic accidents, hemothorax, thoracostomy, rib fractures, non-penetrating wounds, case report
Authors
Correspondence to:
Lui Sze Yee, Emergency and Trauma Department, Hospital Tuanku Fauziah, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak,Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia luiszeyee@hotmail.com
Publication history:
Received 15 Jan 2020
Revised 20 Feb 2020
Accepted 01 Mar 2020
Published online 08 Mar 2020
Published in print 12 Mar 2020
Yee LS, Halim NA, Abidin IZZ. Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation. EJMCR. 2020; 4(2): 84-87. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779
Yee LS, Halim NA, Abidin IZZ. Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation. https://www.ejmcr.com/?mno=82164 [Access: March 29, 2024]. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779
Yee LS, Halim NA, Abidin IZZ. Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation. EJMCR. 2020; 4(2): 84-87. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779
Yee LS, Halim NA, Abidin IZZ. Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation. EJMCR. (2020), [cited March 29, 2024]; 4(2): 84-87. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779
Yee, L. S., Halim, . N. A. & Abidin, . I. Z. Z. (2020) Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation. EJMCR, 4 (2), 84-87. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779
Yee, Lui Sze, Nurkhairulnizam Abd Halim, and Ida Zaliza Zainol Abidin. 2020. Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 4 (2), 84-87. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779
Yee, Lui Sze, Nurkhairulnizam Abd Halim, and Ida Zaliza Zainol Abidin. "Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 4 (2020), 84-87. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779
Yee, Lui Sze, Nurkhairulnizam Abd Halim, and Ida Zaliza Zainol Abidin. "Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation." European Journal of Medical Case Reports 4.2 (2020), 84-87. Print. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779
Yee, L. S., Halim, . N. A. & Abidin, . I. Z. Z. (2020) Delayed massive hemothorax from pulmonary laceration complicating rib fractures: a rare case presentation. European Journal of Medical Case Reports, 4 (2), 84-87. doi:
10.24911/ejmcr/173-1579102779