Korean J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg.  2010 Dec;43(6):669-674.

Clinical Experience of Spontaneous Hemopneumothorax

• Moon HJ
• Hwang SW

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is characterized by the accumulation of air and more than 400 mL of blood in pleural cavity without any apparent cause. It is a rare disease and can cause life-threatening situation. We analyzed clinical reviews of two medical centers to aid in optimal management. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Retrospective review between March 2003 and August 2010 with 18 spontaneous hemopneumothorax patients was made. RESULT: These 18 patients were comprised of 15 male and 3 female with average 24.6 years (range 15~46 years). Almost patients (16) underwent a closed thoracostomy initially and 15 patients received video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). Mean postoperative chest tube removal was 2.9 days and one complication was post-removal pneumothorax. During the follow-up periods there were no other complications and recurrence.
CONCLUSION
Proper initial diagnosis and management of spontaneous hemopneumothorax prevent significant hypovolemic shock. Video-assisted thoracic surgery should be considered an early surgical management in spontaneous hemopneumothorax. However conservative manage without bleb excision may be effective in selected patients.

Keyword

Hemothorax; Pneumothorax; Video-assisted thoracic surgery

MeSH Terms

Blister
Chest Tubes
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hemopneumothorax
Hemothorax
Humans
Male
Pleural Cavity
Pneumothorax
Rare Diseases
Retrospective Studies
Shock
Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
Thoracostomy