A case of spontaneous hemopneumothorax in which the condition worsened after chest drainage

Abstract

A 45-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with sudden chest pain. She came on foot with normal vital signs. Computed tomography (CT) revealed right mild pneumothorax with niveau level. We suspected spontaneous hemopneumothorax (SHP) and inserted a thoracic drain. After 800 ml of blood and air was evacuated immediately, the outflow from the drain stopped. However, despite the outflow of blood from the drainage tube having stopped, she developed hemorrhage shock 2 h after drainage. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed extra-vascular signs at the top of the right pleural cavity. Emergency video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was performed. We identified the chest drain as being obstructed by blood clot. Continuous bleeding from a small aberrant vessel at the top of the thoracic cavity was identified, and we stanched it easily by clipping. The present experience suggests that routine enhanced CT and aggressive emergent VATS should be performed in cases of SHP.

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