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Home :: Family Health :: Haemothorax Haemothorax - Haemothorax symptom, treatment, causes
Haemothorax is a condition in which collection of blood between the two layers of the pleura, the membrane that surrounds each lung and lines its cavity. The most common cause of haemothorax is chest injury, especially when a fractured rib penetrates the cavity. Less common causes include bleeding disorders, and bleeding from cancer or other lesions near the surface of the lung.
Haemothorax is a condition that results from blood accumulating in the pleural cavity. The most common cause of haemothorax is chest injury, especially when a fractured rib penetrates the cavity. Less common causes include bleeding disorders, and bleeding from cancer or other lesions near the surface of the lung. Haemothorax is more common in penetrating than in non-penetrating injures to the chest. If the haemorrhage is severe hypovolaemic shock will occur as well as respiratory distress due to compression of the lung on the involved side. Symptoms depend on the cause and the amount of blood present, and include chest pain and breathing difficulty. If left untreated, the condition can progress to a point where the blood accumulation begins to put pressure on the mediastinum and the trachea, effectively limiting the amount of diastolic filling of the ventricles and deviating the trachea to the unaffected side. Treatment is by correction of the cause, after which the blood is slowly absorbed. Because blood in the pleural cavity seldom clots, large large collections may be withdrawn through a hollow needle inserted through the chest wall.
Causes of Haemothorax
The common causes and risk factor's of Haemothorax include the following:
- Blood accumulating in the pleural cavity.
- Bleeding disorders.
- Chest injury.
- Bleeding from cancer or other lesions near the surface of the lung.
Symptoms of Haemothorax
Symptoms depend on the cause and the amount of blood present, and include chest pain and breathing difficulty. A large haemothorax may compress the underlying lung. severely restricting breathing capacity. Treatment is by correction of the cause, after which the blood is slowly absorbed. Because blood in the pleural cavity seldom clots, large large collections may be withdrawn through a hollow needle inserted through the chest wall. Some sign and symptoms related to Haemothorax are as follows:
- Decreased or absent breath sounds on affected side.
- Pale, cool, clammy skin.
- Chest pain.
- Narrowing pulse pressure.
- Breathing difficulty.
- Dull resonance on percussion.
Treatment of Haemothorax
Here is list of the methods for treating Haemothorax:
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