CHEST INJURIES - Medicine for Mountaineering and Other Wilderness Activities - page 120

An accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity is known as hemothorax. In the wilder-
ness, bleeding fromvessels aroundabrokenribis the usual source, butmay originate from
a punctured or ruptured lung. Blood in the pleural space collapses the lung and interferes
with its function just like trapped air does. If bleeding is severe, the person may go into
shock and even die as the result of blood loss. If a hemothorax of lesser volume is left
unattended, it can become infected. The immediate threat in a remote area is death from
blood loss or impaired respiration. Such an event is unlikely unless a large vessel, such as
an artery or vein in the lung or the thoracic aorta, has been torn, in which case the person
usually dies before help arrives. Less severe bleeding usually stops spontaneously within a
few hours.
Figure 9-5. Pulmonary function with a pneumothorax treated by tube thoracostomy 2