Affiliations 

  • 1 Respiratory Unit, Faculty of Medicine Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Respirol Case Rep, 2024 Aug;12(8):e70012.
PMID: 39188573 DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.70012

Abstract

Surgical evacuation has long been the standard treatment for hemothorax. However, some patients are not suitable candidates for surgery. Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IPFT) has recently emerged as an effective alternative for managing retained hemothorax. This case report describes two patients with retained hemothorax who were unfit for surgery and were successfully treated with IPFT at our centre. Both patients were deemed unsuitable for surgery due to comorbidities and their overall functional status. They received three cycles of IPFT, each consisting of 2.5 mg of alteplase. This treatment effectively evacuated the retained hemothorax, achieving complete radiological resolution without immediate or delayed complications up to 3 months post-discharge.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.