Haemothorax and chylothorax: surgical approach

Diseases causing blood accumulation in the pleural space (or haemothorax) are usually very demanding for diagnosis and require a multidisciplinar therapeutical approach in emergency. So, their treatment should always be immediate and should aim to restore the optimal patient's haemodynamic conditions and to find the site of bleeding. Chylothorax, a lymphatic effusion in the pleural space, is also a very important pathology, as it effects the nutritional and immunological state of the patient causing pleural involvement and respiratory insufficiency. Stabilisation of vital parameters with adequate systemic therapies (blood perfusions, fluids and pro-coagulation factors, TPN) preceeds surgery, which can be the placement of a thoracic drain or emergency thorascopy and/or thoracotomy. The Authors report the casistic of the latest three years for diagnosis and treatment of haemothorax and chylothorax stressing the advantages of a minimal invasive approach for evacuation and identification of the origin of bleeding and haemorrhage and/or lymphatic effusion control.