Abstract

RAMOS DIAZ, Nélida et al. Traumatic hemothorax in a three-year period. Rev Cubana Cir [online]. 2013, vol.52, n.2, pp.101-107. ISSN 0034-7493.

Introduction: trauma is considered one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the modern world. It is estimated that the 20-25 % of deaths by trauma are consequences of thoracic lesions. Objective: to describe the behavior of traumatic hemothorax in a three-year period. Methods: a descriptive, retrospective and tangential study of traumatic hemothorax was conducted at "Dr. Miguel Enriquez" Teaching Hospital in a three-year period. A database was made and different variables were identified, which led to a percentage analysis of the obtained data. Chi2 was also applied to establish the importance of the distribution of the observed frequencies. Results: among the thoracic lesions, the traumatic hemothorax was present in 104 patients (57,7 %). 91,3 % were males and the most affected age group corresponded to 20-30 years with 30 injured patients. Penetrating thoracic wound with knife was present in 75 % of cases, followed by closed trauma. The predominant clinical manifestations were thoracic pain and dyspnea in 43 patients. Conclusions: Low minimal pleurostomy keeps being the most used surgical procedure for the traumatic hemothorax, reserving the urgent thoracotomy only for specific patients with precise indications.

Keywords : traumatic hemothorax; Low minimal pleurostomy; coagulated hemothorax; thoracic pain; dyspnea; shock.

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