Management of computed tomography scan detected hemothorax in blunt chest trauma: What computed tomography scan measurements say?

AIM: To investigate the hemothorax size for which tube thoracostomy is necessary.

METHODS: Over a 5-year period, we included all patients who were admitted with blunt chest trauma to our level 1 trauma center. Focus was placed on identifying the hemothorax size requiring tube thoracostomy.

RESULTS: A total number of 274 hemothoraces were studied. All patients with hemothoraces measuring above 3 cm received a chest tube. The 50% predicted probability of tube thoracostomy was 2 cm. Pneumothorax was associated with odds of receiving tube thoracostomy for hemothoraces below 2 cm (Odds Ratio: 4.967, 95%CI: 2.225-11.097, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION: All patients with a hemothorax size greater than 3% underwent tube thoracostomy. Prospective studies are warranted to elucidate the clinical outcome of patients with smaller hemothoraces.