title: Spontaneous haemopneumothorax.
abstract: Spontaneous haemopneumothorax (SHP) is a rare, potential life-threatening emergency. Patients suffering from spontaneous haemopneumothorax can present at the emergency department with dyspnoea and unexplained signs of significant hypovolemia. Discussion about patient selection, timing and technique of operation is still alive. Standard chest roentgenogram is the most useful way to diagnose spontaneous haemopneumothorax, although false negative results exist. In most cases, initial conservative treatment requires later surgical intervention. So early surgical management is needed. In haemodynamic stable patients without any contra-indications, VATS is the preferred treatment method. However there's still discussion about the timing of surgery in hemodynamically instable patients.
authors.affiliation: Dpt. of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. Hozan.mufty@hotmail.com
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mufty
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Leersnijder
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariën
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Raemdonck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006468:Hemopneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed