Abstract

GONZALEZ, David Alejandro et al. Is the early detection of post-traumatic retained clotted hemothorax possible?. rev. colomb. cir. [online]. 2018, vol.33, n.1, pp.47-51. ISSN 2011-7582.  https://doi.org/10.30944/20117582.46.

The objective of this study was to determine the presence of retained clotted hemothorax as an early phenomenon visible by ultrasound in patients with pleural effusion posterior to thoracic trauma.

We prospectively and descriptively assessed the clinical and ultrasound characteristics of patients who presented traumatic hemothorax or hemopneumothorax in the period January 2011 to March 2014.

Ultrasound was performed on 68 patients with this type of injury, and early clots were found in nine patients, of whom only one developed retained hemothorax.

We conclude that there is no direct relation between the occurrence of blood clots in the early hemothorax and the development of retained clotted hemothorax. Studies with large numbers of patients are required to demonstrate this association.

Keywords : Thoracic injuries; hemothorax; diagnosis; early diagnosis; diagnostic imaging; ultrasonography.

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