RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Late hemothorax is a rare complication of blunt chest trauma. The longest reported time interval between the traumatic event and the development of hemothorax is 44 days. CASE PRESENTATION: An elderly patient with right-sided rib fractures from chest trauma, managed initially with closed thoracostomy, presented with a delayed hemothorax that occurred 60 days after initial management, necessitating conservative and then surgical intervention due to the patient's frail condition and associated complications. CONCLUSIONS: This case emphasizes the clinical challenge and significance of delayed hemothorax in chest trauma, highlighting the need for vigilance and potential surgical correction in complex presentations, especially in the elderly.
Assuntos
Hemotórax , Fraturas das Costelas , Traumatismos Torácicos , Ferimentos não Penetrantes , Humanos , Hemotórax/etiologia , Hemotórax/cirurgia , Ferimentos não Penetrantes/complicações , Traumatismos Torácicos/complicações , Fraturas das Costelas/complicações , Fraturas das Costelas/cirurgia , Masculino , Toracostomia , Fatores de Tempo , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , IdosoRESUMO
A 47-year-old male patient was referred to a level 1 trauma center with refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome, bilateral lung contusions, and flail chest after initial management for injuries sustained 5 days prior from an 8-m fall from a tower crane. Surgical stabilization of the rib fractures was achieved under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, with successful decannulation 4 days after surgery. The patient was discharged after 42 days and following multidisciplinary interventions. Use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in blunt chest trauma patients presents a valuable opportunity as it may enable earlier surgical intervention and reduce in-hospital complications.
