Definition:
A hemothorax is the accumulation of blood between the membranes lining the lungs (the pleura).
A hemothorax can occur due to trauma to the chest, or when blood vessels in the lungs break due to infections, emphysema, lung cancer, or lung surgery.
Symptoms of a hemothorax may include shortness of breath, chest pain, and weakness. Treatment involves treating the cause of the bleeding and inserting a chest tube to drain the blood. In some cases surgery (a thoracotomy) is needed to control the bleeding.
