Although it is very rare, hemopneumothorax can occur during breast augmentation. This potentially fatal surgical complication can be experienced by any plastic surgeon who performs breast augmentation surgery. In this article, we present a case from our institution and review the related literature in order to explore the etiological mechanism of hemopneumothorax, as well as preventive measures and treatments. In addition, we have tried to emphasize the importance of a thorough knowledge of anatomical variations and proper surgical techniques as ways to minimize the likelihood of this complication.
Breast* ; Hemopneumothorax* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemothorax ; Plastics ; Pneumothorax ; Wounds and Injuries

Overall, the percutaneous vertebroplasty has low complication rate. Nevertheless, severe complications can occur. The majority of these are related to cement leakage. The cement migration through perivertebral venous system can lead to fatal complication. We present a case of death by hemothorax due to cement leakage following percutaneous vertebroplasty with literature review.
Hemothorax* ; Vertebroplasty*

In five years (1993-1997), 17 hemothorax entered our Emergency Department. Among them, 8 cases have been treated by internal procedures (transfusion, perfusion, adrenoxyl, vitamin K etc), 9/17 cases have been treated by surgical intervention when internal procedures cannot manage the bleeding. All of them were discharged after a few days of hospitalization with successful results
Hemothorax ; Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: Multiple rib fracture (MRF) and a hemopneumothorax accompany with most blunt chest traumas. We aimed to analyze the factors increasing the probability of a hemopneumothorax. In addition, other injuries accompanying MRF were analyzed. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 154 mutiple rib fracture patients who visited our hospital between January 2005 and December 2007. The medical records were reviewed for sex, age, mechanism of injury, location, number of fractures, distance of dislocated rib fragments, and presence of complications. We measured the distance of bony dislocations by using the PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System). RESULTS: The average number of rib fractures was 3.7+/-2.1, and the number of rib fractures significantly influenced the incidence of a hemothorax (p<0.001). The risk of a phemothorax was increased in a bilateral MRF compared to a unilateral MRF (p=0.027). The distance of dislocated rib fragments influenced the probability of a hemothorax significantly (p=0.018), and subcutaneous emphysema and lung contusion were significantly associated with a pneumothorax (p=0.021, p=0.036). CONCLUSION: The number of MRFs did not influence the risk for a pneumothorax, but did influence the risk for a hemothorax. The laterality, distance of dislocation, also had an influence on the risk for a hemothorax. Also, subcutaneous emphysema and lung contusion were increased in cases with a pneumothorax. We must consider the possibility of a hemothorax even when the initial chest X-ray shows no evidence of a hemothorax. If a lung contusion is present, then an occult pneumothorax must be considered.
Contusions ; Dislocations ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Medical Records ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies ; Rib Fractures ; Ribs ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Thorax

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of malpractice claims related to hemopneumothorax and to identify the causes and potential preventability of such claims. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed by reviewing the records in the Lawnb website and Lx CD-rom: the records on closed malpractice claims involving hemopneumothorax were abstracted from the files available for analysis. The records were reviewed and were analysed to determine the etiology of hemopneumothorax, patient age, results of lawsuit and indemnity payment, underlying diseases, cause of death or complications, and the factors associated with a successful defense. RESULT: Seven closed claim involving hemopneumothorax were founded in the data for malpractice. Three claims were supreme court decision, one was a high court decision and three claims were district court decision. The most common cause of death was tension pneumothorax. Four of which resulted in indemnity payments. CONCLUSION: While malpractice claims involving hemopneumothorax were uncommon, they resulted in a high rate and amount of indemnity payments. Claims are more common in pediatric patients. In case of iatrogenic hemopneumothorax, post-procedural X-ray can improve patient outcome and is also associated with decreased indemnity risks. Informed consent is also important.
Cause of Death ; CD-ROM ; Hemopneumothorax* ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Informed Consent ; Jurisprudence ; Malpractice ; Pneumothorax ; Retrospective Studies ; Supreme Court Decisions

PURPOSE: In patient with blunt trauma of chest, supine AP x-ray cannot differenciate the lung contusion, laceration, atelectasis, and hemothorax definitely. Therefore, computed tomographic evaluation is needed for accurate evaluation of the injuries. In our knowledge, there are few reports about CT findings of blunt chest trauma, in our country, therefore we tried to fiud the characteristic CT findings in patients with blunt trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the plain x-ray and CT image of 4 patient with blunt chest trauma. Location and morphology of lung parenchymal contusion and laceration, hemopneumothorax, chest wall injuries and location of chest tube. RESULTS: Lung parenchymal contusion was noted in 53 segments. of 16 patiants'infiltration(n=27 segment), and multiple nodular pattern was noted in 15 segment, pattern of consolidation along the lung periphery was seen in 11 segment. Laceration was noted in 18 lesion and most commonly located in paravertebral area(b=8). CONCLUSION: CT scan of chest in patient with blunt chest trauma, provides accurate informations of the pattern of injuries, and localization, therefore, should be performed as po9ssible.
Chest Tubes ; Contusions ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Lung ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyze chest-trauma patients and the old-aged patients with a traumatic hemopneumothorax. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 101 chest-trauma patients admitted to the department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery from June 1999 to November 2008. We evaluated the general characteristics of the chest-trauma patient, especially those of old-aged patients with a traumatic hemopneumothorax. RESULTS: Rib fracture was observed in 99 of the cases, the location distribution was right: left =261: 255, with right being dominant. Rib fractures commonly involved the 4th and the 7th rib. The average number of rib fractures was 5.1, and the average number of rib fractures in the old-aged patients was significantly higher than that in the non-old-aged patients (p=0.04). There were 17 cases of a hemopnuemothorax in old-aged patients, 52 cases in non-old-aged patients. The blood loss through the chest tube for old-aged patients was significantly more than that for the non-old-aged patients, and the initial hemoglobin level was lower in the old-aged patients. CONCLUSION: Elderly trauma patients are more likely to die after trauma than other age groups. Even with relatively stable vital signs, invasive hemodynamic monitoring and intensive treatment are recommended.
Aged ; Chest Tubes ; Hemodynamics ; Hemoglobins ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Pneumothorax ; Rib Fractures ; Ribs ; Thoracic Surgery ; Thorax ; Vital Signs

It has been suggested that hyperdensity of pleural effusion, as seen on CT, is indicative of hemothorax. We report a case in which CT revealed delayed contrast enhancement of pleural effusion on, with no evidence of hemothorax. This phenomenon is clinically important because delayed enhancement can mimic hyperdensity of hemothorax.
Angiography* ; Hemothorax ; Pleural Effusion*

Traumatic hemothorax caused by closed thoracoabdominal trauma or thoracoabdominal wounds. The injuries of thoracic wall, pleurae or thoracic organs caused bleeding into pleural cavity. Increasing blood volume in pleural cavity leaded to physiological responses. Rapid and severe blood loss will caused the hematological changes. Hemothorax with high volume blood will cause mass effect and lead to dyspnea. Closed drainage of pleural cavity is a method that widely applied for hemothorax treatment
Hemothorax ; Wounds and Injuries

Closed thoracostomy with UWSD* which is the most utilized procedure in chest surgery applies general thoracic disorders, trauma and after-thoracic surgery. The University hospital was involved on operating 2341 cases of closed thoracostomy with UWSD except chest tubing after-thoracic surgery for a full six years from January, 1991 to December, 1996. The rate of men and women out of the total 2341 cases was 3.5 : 1, the distribution by age showed that men were 36.6+/-21.0 years old, women were 47.0+/-20.2 years old and so that the total were 40.0+/-20.5 years old. As for indication, spontaneous, secondary and traumatic pneumothorax were the most common, in addition to hemothorax, hemopneumothorax, hydrothorax, hydropneumothorax, empyema, chylothorax. The most indwelling period of chest tubing is between eight and fourteen days for 974 cases and the average is 13.7+/-6.3 days, The average drainage amount immediately after thoracostomy was 537+/-88ml, and in 694 cases(46.0%), the drain amount was 201~500 ml. The rate of right and left tubing was 52.4 : 47.6, in 2071 cases(88.5%), the thoracostomy was the first chance and 2210 cases(94.4%) were treated with a single tube drainage. Almost all the patients complained of tube site pain, besides tube site infection, intercostal neuralgia, loss of tube function by the pleural adhesion, intrathoracic infection, incomplete reexpansion of defective lung, hemorrhage caused by the rupture of a blood vessel, subcutaneous emphysema, lung parenchymal rupture, diaphragmatic and intraabdominal trauma, reexpansionary pulmonary edema of one side lung and cellulitis were relapsed. 84.6% of all patients recovered with only closed thoracostomy and the rest of patient needed additional some necessary managements and so on to have successful results. There were two deaths(0.1%), caused by reexpansionary pulmonary edema, the cellulitis were complicated by thoracostomy with UWSD on an empyema patients to come to death(due to sepsis). * UWSD = under water seal drainage.
Blood Vessels ; Cellulitis ; Chylothorax ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Female ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemorrhage ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Hydropneumothorax ; Hydrothorax ; Lung ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Edema ; Rupture ; Subcutaneous Emphysema ; Thoracostomy* ; Thorax