Spontaneous haemopneumothorax: a rare clinical entity.
A 39 yr old man presented with a spontaneous pneumothorax. On initial pleural drainage 120 ml of haemorrhagic fluid were collected. Twenty four hours, after re-expansion of the lung, shock developed and 1,200 ml of haemorrhagic fluid were spontaneously collected. The diagnosis haemopneumothorax was considered and at operation a bleeding vessel, which originated from the parietal pleura, was located and coagulated. The occurrence of an air fluid line at radiological examination, the development of a haemorrhagic pleural effusion and shock should alert the physician of this entity. This case stresses the importance of early recognition and surgical intervention because of the possible lethal evolution.
Baas
P
P
Pulmonary Dept, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Stam
J
J
D000328:Adult; D006468:Hemopneumothorax / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000209:etiology