A 22-year-old man was transported to our emergency department after he was stabbed in the chest and suffered from pain in the back. At physical examination, this patient had no respiratory problems, with a breathing frequency of 15/min and an oxygen saturation of 98%, and no circulatory problems.

Participation

Separation of the left visceral pleura from the chest wall suggesting a pneumothorax, for which a chest drain was placed. Increased opacity of the left hemithorax suggesting the presence of a haemothorax.A widened, abnormal mediastinum with indistinct delineation, depression of the left main bronchus, left apical capping, and opacification of the aortoplumonary window suggesting mediastinal bleeding.

Requirements

(1), (2) Coronal and sagittal MDCT reconstructions of the chest with highly concentrated intravenous contrast demonstrated presence of a chest drain (white arrow) and its correct position (not shown), a large mediastinal haematoma, a haemothorax and a filling defect at the dorsum of the descending aorta (black arrow). (3) In addition, MDCT demonstrated a residual (ventral) pneumothorax (arrow). White arrow: chest drain

Extraexaminations

No EXTRA EXAMINATIONS for this particular case.

Requirements

Penetrating injury to the chest resulting in: a haemopneumothorax - an aortic laceration that was treated without aortic stenting At a follow-up CT scan after three months, the filling defect and the mediastinal haematoma had disappeared without signs of pseudoaneurysm

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