Hemothorax caused by zone I penetrating neck injury effectively treated with pleural dome laceration covering performed using video-assisted thoracic surgery: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Penetrating neck injuries in the area between the clavicles and the cricoid cartilage sometimes cause intrathoracic problems such as pneumothorax or hemothorax. Injuries of subclavian vessels were reported as a cause of hemothorax caused by penetrating neck injuries. Coil embolization and hemostasis with electrocautery were reported as treatment. Herein we present a case of hemothorax caused by penetrating neck injury, which was treated with pleural dome laceration covering performed using video-assisted thoracic surgery.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old Japanese woman presented to our hospital after sustaining a self-inflicted stab wound to her left neck and chest with a kitchen knife. She was in hemorrhagic shock due to hemothorax caused by penetrating neck injury. We performed video-assisted thoracic surgery and stopped bleeding with pleural dome laceration covering. We chose the treatment instead of coil embolization or hemostasis with electrocautery because the bleeding vessel was unclear.

CONCLUSION

Pleural dome laceration covering was effective for hemothorax that was caused by penetrating neck injury when the bleeding vessel was unclear.