To the question of traumatic hemotorax (a literature review)
Hemothorax is a very common consequence of chest injuries. Early detection and treatment of hemothorax is of paramount importance for the prognosis of the disease. The article describes the features of pathophysiology, hemodynamics, respiratory response, physiological resolution and late physiological response to hemothorax. The clinical manifestations of chest injuries depend on the mechanism of damage and the list of organs involved. Unlike penetrating chest injuries, the biomechanical force needed to get significant blunt damage to the chest often leads to multiple injuries, including injuries to the abdomen, head and limbs. Treatment of hemothorax is divided into periods: in the early phase, for example, with hemorrhagic shock, respiratory disorders or clotted hemothorax, and in the late phase with fibrothorax and pleural empyema. The presence of 1500 ml or more blood in the pleural cavity or the dynamic flow of more than 250 ml of blood every hour for three consecutive hours through the drainage tube are indications for surgical intervention for penetrating injuries of the chest. The decision to early eliminate residual hemothorax / blood clots with video assisted thoracoscopy significantly reduces late complications such as empyema, fibrothorax and the need for late secondary thoracotomy. In addition, the early use of video-assisted thoracoscopy shortens the length of hospital stay compared to pleural cavity drainage or conservative treatment of hemothorax.