• M Migliore, A Buffone, R Polara, P Caragliano, R Tabbì, and G Basile.
• Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Sezione di Chirurgia Toracica, Università degli Studi, Catania, Italy.
• Minerva Chir. 2001 Oct 1;56(5):483-6.

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to examine the different therapeutic options for traumatic hemopneumothorax and in particular the latest concepts (videothoracoscopy).MethodsA retrospective study was performed on a group of 20 patients with post-traumatic hemothorax and/or pneumothorax attending the emergency department at Ospedale Vittorio Emanuele in Catania over the past 10 years where 2500 patients with abdominal and/or thoracic trauma were treated during the same period. The patients included 18 males and 2 females with a mean age of 35 years (range 13-70). The cause of injury was a gunshot wound in 8 patients, a blunt trauma following a road accident in 9 and a stab wound in 3 patients. A drainage tube was inserted in 15 patients (a videothoracoscopic approach was used in 2 cases); 3 patients required a diaphragmatic suture and 2 thoracotomy (inferior lobectomy and repair of the main left bronchus).ResultsThree out of 20 patients died with an overall mortality rate of 15%. Two patients died respectively from severe brain and abdominal injuries associated with thoracic trauma, while the third patient died from septic complications.ConclusionsIn the past few years videothoracoscopy has allowed a different approach to be used in patients affected by hemo-pneumothorax since it allows a more accurate diagnosis (extent and origin of bleeding, identification of associated diaphragmatic lesion) and the possibility of treating pleuro-pulmonary injuries without performing extensive thoracotomies.

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