Hemothorax

Definition:

A collection of blood in the space between the chest wall and the lung (the pleural cavity).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The most common cause of hemothorax is chest injury. Other causes include cancer, a defect of the blood clotting mechanism, thoracic surgery, or pulmonary (lung) infarction (tissue death). In a chest injury, a rib may lacerate lung tissue or an artery, causing blood to collect in the pleural space. A large hemothorax is often the cause of shock in a trauma victim. Hemothorax may also be associated with pneumothorax (collapsed lung). Depending upon the amount of blood in the pleural cavity, respiratory failure can result. The incidence is 6 out of 100,000 people.