Contents:
- Medical Video: Pleural Effusion - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology
- Hemothorax, when blood in the pleural cavity
- What causes hemothorax?
- How do you diagnose this condition?
- Then, what is the right treatment for hemothorax?
- What are the complications due to hemothorax?
Medical Video: Pleural Effusion - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology
The main task of the lungs is to breathe, or more precisely to the place of exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide. However, not infrequently there are various diseases that can interfere with lung function, one of which is hemothorax. Hemothorax is a disorder of the pulmonary pleural cavity. For more details, see the review of the following hemothorax.
Hemothorax, when blood in the pleural cavity
Hemothorax is a condition that occurs when there is blood in the pleural cavity, which is located between the chest wall and lung. This buildup of blood volume puts considerable pressure on the lungs and ultimately makes the lung work become obstructed and problematic.
People with hemothorax will usually show some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Chest pain, which is increasingly felt when breathing
- Difficulty breathing (dyspnea)
- The skin looks pale
- Respiratory period tends to be fast
- Feeling anxious and overly anxious
- High fever, even more than 38 degrees Celsius
If you practice one or more of the above conditions, do not delay to immediately consult with your doctor.
What causes hemothorax?
The most common cause of hemothorax is because the pleural membrane that is responsible for lining the lungs is damaged or broken so that blood in the body can easily enter the pleural cavity and suppress the lungs.
Damage to the pleural membrane can be triggered by complications from heart or lung surgery. Because, this procedure requires the surgeon to open the chest wall, which does not rule out the possibility of causing blood to leak into the pleural cavity. Especially when the incision in the heart or lung is not closed properly.
On the other hand, an organ or blood vessel that is open in the lung area, as well as an injury or accident that causes a severe impact on the lung can also lead to hemothorax.
That is why, doctors and medical teams are required to examine the condition of the lungs of patients who are victims of accidents or injuries.
But besides that, it turns out there are various health conditions that can be the cause of hemothorax, such as:
- Lung infections, such as tuberculosis (TB)
- Lung cancer
- There is a clot of frozen blood that flows into the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
- Pulmonary tissue dysfunction
- Tearing of blood vessels due to the entry of a catheter while undergoing heart surgery
In some rare cases, hemothorax can occur spontaneously without starting with a serious condition.
How do you diagnose this condition?
The first examination done by a doctor is to detect abnormal breathing sounds with the help of a stethoscope. If you feel suspicious, your doctor will recommend other screening methods that can help ensure hemothorax.
For example, with a CT scan, which will show a complete picture of the structure of the lung and pleural cavity so that the doctor can confirm the presence of abnormalities or not.
Your doctor may also ask you to do an x-ray or x-ray if you have an injury or fracture in the chest and abdomen. If there is a hemothorax, the blood that fills the pleural cavity appears white.
In emergency situations, ultrasound (USG) screening options can provide faster and more accurate results in assessing the presence of a hemothorax problem. Doctors can also do blood tests to get a pleural fluid sample to be diagnosed further.
Then, what is the right treatment for hemothorax?
The most important treatment in the case of hemothorax is removing fluid stored in the chest cavity in a waythoracocentesis. This method involves a tube that is inserted into the chest through your rib cage to drain blood or fluid that accumulates out of the body.
The tube will remain in the chest for the next few days, until the lungs feel it can work properly.
But if the bleeding in the chest continues, even when the tube is still doing its job to remove blood, then surgery or surgery can be the next choice. This procedure is called a thoracotomy.
What are the complications due to hemothorax?
There are various kinds of complications that may occur in patients with hemothorax. Starting from lung problems that can cause difficulty breathing; infection of the lung, pleura, or pleural fluid in the chest cavity; to pulmonary fibrosis.
In severe cases, hemothorax can cause the sufferer to suffer shock due to lack of blood and oxygen to be distributed throughout the body. Shock from blood loss is called hypovolemic shock, which can cause permanent damage to organs - including the heart, lungs, and brain.
