dictionary help| haemothorax (English spelling) | medical dictionary |
<respiratory medicine> An effusion of blood into the cavity of the pleura in the thorax. Generally one-sided and secondary to chest trauma. One side of the chest can hold 2-3 litres of blood in the average adult.
Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and restlessness. Treatment requires chest tube thoracostomy. Open surgical treatment may be necessary if bleeding is significant or uncontrollable.
American spelling: hemothorax
(27 Sep 1997)
haemotachometer, haemotachometry, haemotaphonomy, haemotherapy < Prev | Next > haemothymia, haemotoxic, haemotoxin
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