Tag Archives: Hemothorax

PUBLISHED: Chest Tube Placement for Possible Hemothorax

Chest Tube Placement for Possible Hemothorax
David V. DeshpandeAbigail Clarkson-During, MDJennifer Cone, MDAshley Suah, MD
UChicago Medicine

A hemothorax is a collection of blood within the pleural cavity. Blood can accumulate within this space as a sequelae of chest trauma (penetrating or blunt), iatrogenic injury (e.g., vascular access injuries), or spontaneously (e.g., due to malignancy). To treat the condition, a chest tube is inserted into the thoracic cavity on the affected side of the body. In addition to evacuating blood from the pleural cavity, a chest tube can also be used to treat pneumothorax (air in the pleural space) and pleural effusion (e.g., empyema or chylothorax), and to insert medications into the pleural space. Depending on the specific pathology, a tube or catheter may be utilized.

PREPRINT RELEASE: Chest Tube Placement for Possible Hemothorax

Chest Tube Placement for Possible Hemothorax
UChicago Medicine

Ashley Suah, MD
Resident Physician

Abigail Clarkson-During, MD
Resident Physician

Jennifer Cone, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery

In our second trauma case with UChicago Medicine, Drs. Suah, Clarkson-During, and Cone place a chest tube in a female patient with a possible hemothorax.