bleeding into the thorax
Last reviewed 01/2018
In following the ATLS protocol, blood in the thorax is drained via a chest drain to preventing it compromising breathing.
If a large haemothorax is initially drained, i.e. greater than one litre, the patient should be considered for emergency thoracotomy.
A thoracotomy may later be indicated if the chest drain is draining more than 200ml/hour for four hours.