Hémothorax et plèvre traumatique

There are two types of thoracic traumatisms: closed thoracic traumatism (second cause of poly-traumatized mortality), and open thoracic traumatism (fréquent in case of homicide or accident, it represents the first cause death between 15-34 years old). They both have multiple clinical presentations with several various structures implicated: pulmonary (pleura, ribs, pulmonary parenchyma), vascular (aortic isthmus, heart, cervicothoracic vessels) or neurologie (thoracic rachis). In any case, a rapid multidisciplinary management is mandatory, involving emergency physicians, pulmonologists, surgeons and intensivists and can range from simple monitoring to emergency thoracotomy. The lesions check should be performed urgently, with a major role of chest CT. In the stable closed chest trauma, a monitoring is always necessary to prevent any secondary hemothorax which is a common complication.