How can you tell the difference between a pneumothorax and a hemothorax?

A hemothorax will have a similar presentation as a pneumothorax, with symptoms such as dyspnea, hypoxia, decreased breath sounds, and chest pain. A key clinical finding that separates these two is that a pneumothorax will have hyper-resonance to percussion, but a hemothorax will have a hypo-resonance to percussion.

What are the causes of hemothorax?

The most common cause of hemothorax is chest trauma. Hemothorax can also occur in people who have: A blood clotting defect. Chest (thoracic) or heart surgery.

What is the symptoms of hemothorax?

Clinical findings of hemothorax are broad and may overlap with pneumothorax; these include respiratory distress, tachypnea, decreased or absent breath sounds, dullness to percussion, chest wall asymmetry, tracheal deviation, hypoxia, narrow pulse pressure, and hypotension.

How is Haemothorax diagnosed?

Share on Pinterest A hemothorax may be diagnosed with an X-ray or a CT scan. During a physical exam, doctors will listen for sounds of abnormal breathing through a stethoscope. Doctors may also tap on the chest to listen for sounds of liquid.

How do you treat hemothorax?

The most important treatment for hemothorax is draining the blood out of your chest cavity. Your doctor will likely put a tube through your chest muscles and tissues, through your ribs, and into your chest cavity to drain any pooled blood, fluid, or air. This is called a thoracentesis or thoracostomy.

What is the treatment for hemothorax?

How long does a hemothorax take to heal?

It will take about 3 to 4 weeks for your incision to heal completely. It may leave a small scar that will fade with time.

How serious is a hemothorax?

Outlook. Hemopneumothorax is a potentially life-threatening condition and needs to be treated right away for the best outlook. If the condition was caused by a trauma or injury to the chest, the outlook will depend on the severity of the injury.

How long does it take to recover from a hemothorax?

Your doctor will remove the bandage and examine the wound in about 2 days. It will take about 3 to 4 weeks for your incision to heal completely. It may leave a small scar that will fade with time.

What is a massive hemothorax?

A massive hemothorax is defined as blood drainage >1,500 mL after closed thoracostomy and continuous bleeding at 200 mL/hr for at least four hours. Five patients were identified all requiring emergency surgery. Delayed massive hemothorax presented 63.6±21.3 hours after blunt chest trauma.

How do you strengthen your lungs after pneumothorax?

Take your medicines as directed by your doctor. Use your spirometer (machine to strengthen lungs). Do the deep breathing and coughing exercises at least 4 times a day. Keep the bandage on for 48 hours.

What should be considered in the diagnosis of pneumothorax?

Chronic necrotising pulmonary aspergillosis is a rare cause of pneumothorax. This diagnosis should be considered in patients experiencing pneumothorax with symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis and cavitary changes especially in the upper lobes.

How do you fix a pneumothorax?

For a small pneumothorax, no treatment may be needed as it will repair on its own. A larger pneumothorax may require the insertion of a syringe or a chest tube to draw out air. Surgery may be needed to repair a leaking lung if the pneumothorax is recurring. If surgery is not an option, the pleural cavity may be sealed using a talc mixture or drugs.

What is the difference between primary and secondary pneumothorax?

A primary spontaneous pneumothorax is one that occurs without an apparent cause and in the absence of significant lung disease. A secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in the presence of existing lung disease.

What are the different types of pneumothorax treatment?

The different types of pneumothorax treatment are based on the four types of the condition, which include: primary pneumothorax, secondary pneumothorax, traumatic pneumothorax, and tension pneumothorax.