Bleeding into the thorax
In following the ATLS protocol, blood in the thorax is drained via a chest drain to preventing it compromising breathing.
If a large haemothorax is initially drained, i.e. greater than one litre, the patient should be considered for emergency thoracotomy.
A thoracotomy may later be indicated if the chest drain is draining more than 200ml/hour for four hours.
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