Hemothorax is a disease in which blood collects between the lungs and the chest wall (the pleural cavity).
It is one of the common causes of chest pain.
It can also cause collapsed lungs when this disease gets combined with pneumothorax.
In mild Hemothorax, case treatment is not needed.
But if it is a case of severe Hemothorax, treatment is a need.
And that too on the right time, otherwise other complications can take place. Sometimes doctors have to do surgery also, but it is not often.
Causes
The most common cause of chest trauma is Hemothorax.
It can easily occur in the patients, who have a problem of blood clotting, lung cancer, had heart surgery or tuberculosis.
Blunt and penetrating trauma is caused by Hemothorax.
Blunt trauma can also be caused by car accidents or sports injuries.
Heart surgery and chest surgery often results in Hemothorax.
Penetrating trauma is caused when wounds are caused by some sharp objects like knife wounds or gun shot wounds.
Other causes are pleural cancer, lung cancer, and tuberculosis.
Some bleeding disorders can also cause Hemothorax.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Hemothorax depend on the cause of Hemothorax and the volume of blood in the cavity of the chest.
Very light trauma will not produce any symptom of Hemothorax.
Deep chest pain and shock can be symptoms of severe Hemothorax.
Some other symptoms are tachycardia, fast breathing or shortness of breathes, restlessness, anxiety etc.
Rapid heart rate is also one of the symptoms of Hemothorax.
If a person has any such symptoms, he should immediately talk to his doctors about it.
The doctors will take necessary physical tests and some other tests like x-rays, CT scan, thoracentesis, pleural fluid analysis etc.
Caution
You should call your doctor immediately if you suffered any accident or injury in your chest.
If treatment is not given on time, this problem can lead to many other serious problems like death, shock, collapsed lungs which in turn can lead to respiratory failure and pneumothorax.
Few safety measures can be taken such as avoiding any type of injuries.
Treatment
Mild Hemothorax does not need any treatment but severe Hemothorax needs proper treatment.
When it is severe, the chest tube alone is unable to control the bleeding.
In this condition, surgery is recommended.
Sometimes the cause of Hemothorax is also treated.
The treatment will depend upon the cause.
Surgery is often not needed. The main aim of Hemothorax treatment is to take out existing blood in the pleural cavity.
In this treatment, a chest tube is inserted to suck out the existing blood.
If it is a case of collapsed lungs, this chest tube may remain for many days.
