Treatment of acutely developing massive left sided hemothorax in a young male after an accident is ?
Strapping of chest
Tube thoracostomy
Endotracheal intubation + IPPV + pleural fluid aspiration
Conservative, wait and watch
Ans. is 'b' i.e., Tube thoracostomy Hemothorax is defined as blood within the pleural cavity. It is classified according to the amount of blood. Minimal hemothorax --> 350 ml Moderate hemothorax --> 350-1500 ml Massive hemothorax --> 1500 ml or more (Note: The rate of bleeding after evacuation of the thorax is even more impoant.) T/T of Hemothorax ? Tube thoracostomy is performed promptly. In 85% of cases tube thoracostomy is the only treatment required. A small number of cases will have continued bleeding and will require a thoracotomy Indications for thoractomy are - persistent drainage of 200-300 ml/hr - total hemorrhagic output exceeds 1500 ml of blood