Abstract

Aim: Delayed hemothorax (DH) developed in the some of our patients who had blunt abdominal injury (BAI). DH complicating blunt abdominal injury is a rare condition. Therefore the medical records of the patients were retrospectively reviewed.

Material and Methods: The medical records of all patients hospitalized with diagnosis of isolated BAI and DH in our clinic from January 2006 to March 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. Hemothorax that developed during follow up in the patient who had initially normal physical examination, chest x-ray and chest CT scans was defined as DH.

Results: During this period, 44 patients (32 males, 12 females) with BAI were hospitalized. DH developed in the 5 (11.36 %) patients. Clinical findings for patients who developed delayed hemothorax were as follows. The median age was 6,8 years old (range from 3 to 10 years old). All of the patients had initially normal chest physical examination, radiological signs. Dyspnea, tachypnea, chest pain and increased abdominal pain developed in the all of patients during follow up period. Posterior-anterior chest x-ray was obtained in all of patients. It showed hemothorax in the only 2 of the patients. Because of the clinical signs chest CT scans were obtained again in remaining 3 patients and hemothorax was diagnosed. DH developed in the left hemothorax in the 3 patients with spleen injuries, in the right hemothorax in 1 patients with liver injuries , and in the both hemothoraxes in the 1 patient with spleen injury and liver injury.

Conclusion: Delayed hemothorax may develop in the some patients with serious BAI. Initially normal physical examination and radiological signs do not exclude the possibility of developing hemothorax. Clinician should be aware of DH in the patients with BAI who have developed dyspnea, tachypnea and increased abdominal pain during follow up period.