The Management of Traumatic Hemothoraces

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY · Feb 8, 2017

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying the best way to manage a condition called hemothorax, which is when blood collects in the chest after a blunt injury. This situation can be tricky because while some blood can be absorbed by the body without any treatment, many doctors still recommend placing a tube in the chest to drain the blood. However, this tube placement can lead to complications, like injury or infection. The trial aims to compare two approaches: using a chest tube to drain the blood versus closely monitoring the patient to see if the body can take care of it on its own. The goal is to figure out when a chest tube is really necessary and when it might be safe to avoid it.

To be eligible for this trial, participants must be at least 18 years old and have a blunt injury to the chest that has been confirmed by a CT scan showing hemothorax. However, those who are unstable or require urgent treatment, or have other serious injuries, will not be included. If someone joins the study, they can expect to receive care based on one of the two methods being compared, and their outcomes will help shape future treatments for patients with similar injuries around the world.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age \>= 18 years
• • 2. Blunt thoracic injury
• • 3. CT detected hemothorax
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Hemodynamic instability that is related to HTX in the judgment of the attending clinician
• • 2. Any scenario where the clinician mandates urgent TT placement
• • 3. Penetrating thoracic injury
• • 4. Respiratory distress that is related to HTX in the judgment of the attending clinician
• • 5. Chest tube already in-situ (eg. Prior to transfer of care to the FMC)
• • 6. \>24 h after admission
• • 7. Ipsilateral flail chest fracture pattern