title: Spontaneous hemopneumothorax: our experience with surgical management.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is rare, accounting for only 1%-12% of patients presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax. The optimal management of these patients remains controversial with no definitive guidelines on patient selection and timing of surgery. The aim of this study was to review our institution's surgical experience in the management of patients with spontaneous hemopneumothorax.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of all patients with spontaneous hemopneumothorax who underwent surgery from January 2000 to June 2013. Patient data were obtained from our institution's primary spontaneous pneumothorax database.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 510 patients who underwent surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax, 33 (6.4%) developed spontaneous hemopneumothorax. The mean age was 24.0 years (range 16-40 years). In 30 (90.9%) patients, it was their first presentation of pneumothorax. There were 25 (75.8%) patients with Vanderschueren stage III spontaneous pneumothorax. Blood loss ranged from 250 to 3000 mL (mean 1280 mL). In 28 patients, a torn adhesion band was the source of bleeding. Thoracotomy was the surgical approach in 9 (27.3%) patients, and video-assisted thoracic surgery was used in 24 (72.7%). One patient required reoperation for retained clots. There was no mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that surgical management of spontaneous hemopneumothorax can be undertaken with minimal morbidity and mortality. With the increasing use of video-assisted thoracic surgery, definitive surgical management of spontaneous hemopneumothorax can be instituted earlier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Cheong Kiat Julian
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yong Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac, Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, National University Hospital, Singapore atasha_asmat@ttsh.com.sg.
authors.forename: Atasha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asmat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006468:Hemopneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Hemopneumothorax; Thoracic surgery; Thoracotomy; video-assisted