Spontaneous haemopneumothorax: a rare clinical entity. |
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Authors: | P Baas J Stam |
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Affiliation: | Pulmonary Dept, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
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Abstract: | A 39 yr old man presented with a spontaneous pneumothorax. On initial pleural drainage 120 ml of haemorrhagic fluid were collected. Twenty four hours, after re-expansion of the lung, shock developed and 1,200 ml of haemorrhagic fluid were spontaneously collected. The diagnosis haemopneumothorax was considered and at operation a bleeding vessel, which originated from the parietal pleura, was located and coagulated. The occurrence of an air fluid line at radiological examination, the development of a haemorrhagic pleural effusion and shock should alert the physician of this entity. This case stresses the importance of early recognition and surgical intervention because of the possible lethal evolution. |
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