title: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for retained hemothorax in blunt chest trauma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the last decade, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become a popular method in diagnosis and treatment of acute chest injuries. Except for patients with unstable vital signs who require larger surgical incisions to check bleeding, this endoscopic surgery could be employed in the majority of thoracic injury patients with stable vital signs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the past, VATS was used to evacuate traumatic-retained hemothorax. Recent study has revealed further that lung repair during VATS could decrease complications after trauma. Management of fractured ribs could also be assisted by VATS. Early VATS intervention within 7 days after injury can decrease the rate of posttraumatic infection and length of hospital stay. In studies of the pathophysiology of animal models, N-acetylcysteine and methylene blue were used in animals with blunt chest trauma and found to improve clinical outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retained hemothorax derived from blunt chest trauma should be managed carefully and rapidly. Early VATS intervention is a well tolerated and reliable procedure that can be applied to manage this complication cost effectively.
authors.affiliation: aDivision of Trauma, Department of Emergency, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung bResearch Center for Industry of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kweishan, Taoyuan cDepartment of Emergency, Foo-Yin University Hospital, Pingtung County dDivision of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital eSchool of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung fDepartment of Pharmacy, Tajen University, Pingtung.
authors.forename: Yi-Pin
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Hsing-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tzu-Chin
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006491:Hemothorax; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating