Hemothorax in the newborn

Abstract

Twenty cases of hemothorax in newborns, including 4 of our own patients, are reviewed in detail. This unusual cause of acute respiratory distress within the neonatal period was observed in 14 males and 6 females. Most of the patients were fullterm newborns. As causal factors hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (vitamin K deficiency), disseminated intravascular coagulation, arteriovenous malformations and pleural/vascular rupture are considered. The time of occurrence of bleeding symptoms ranged from 1 to 28 days of life. Sixteen out of 20 patients survived without sequelae, but in 4 cases the outcome was lethal.

Congenital Hemothorax in a Preterm Neonate

“…Isolated hemorrhagic and non chylous effusions are rare. Hemorrhagic effusion may present secondary to disseminated intravascular coagulation, hemorrhagic disease of newborn or trauma [4]. Our case has normal coagulation study and there was no history of trauma.…”

Cutis Marmorata Telangiectatica Congenita Presenting as a Fetal Hemothorax

“…The etiology of chest effusions ranges from infectious to cardiac aneurysms; hemothorax is typically not included in the differential diagnosis for a fetus [1]. Neonatal hemothorax may be associated with trauma, hemorrhagic disease of the newborn, arteriovenous malformations, and pleural or vascular rupture [2,3]. We found 2 reported cases of fetal hemothorax in the literature.…”

Stitch in time: Life‐saving thoracotomy for treatment of neonatal haemothorax

“…Haemothorax has been rarely reported in newborns 8 . The source of bleeding can be the lungs, chest wall, heart, great vessels, diaphragm or intra‐abdominal organs 9 .…”

“…Early case reports of neonatal haemothorax have mostly been in association with haemorrhagic disease of the newborn 10 . In one report of 20 cases, almost half the cases had a bleeding tendency with haemorrhagic disease being the outstanding cause of haemothorax 8 . The prognosis in this setting is good ,provided the diagnosis is made promptly and the underlying haemorrhagic tendency is reversed adequately with vitamin K, packed cells and FFP transfusion 8 .…”

“…In one report of 20 cases, almost half the cases had a bleeding tendency with haemorrhagic disease being the outstanding cause of haemothorax 8 . The prognosis in this setting is good ,provided the diagnosis is made promptly and the underlying haemorrhagic tendency is reversed adequately with vitamin K, packed cells and FFP transfusion 8 . The clinical presentation of haemothorax manifests either as haemodynamic or respiratory instability.…”