Value of video-assisted thoracic surgery in traumatic extrapleural hematoma.

The current article reports on a rare case recently experienced, in which a medially displaced extrapleural fat layer with parietal pleura, revealed by CT scan of the chest, was a sign of traumatic extrapleural hematoma. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was not suited to approaching and managing the extrapleural hematoma, so that a limited thoracotomy was mandatory. Extrapleural hematoma should be considered a relative major contraindication to video-assisted thoracic surgery.