Thoracoscopy in the management of hemothorax and retained blood after trauma.

Retained hemothorax complicated by blood clotting in the thoracic cavity traditionally has been treated with open thoracotomy for evacuation of the hemothorax and cleaning of the thoracic cavity. Recent improvements in video technology and endoscopic surgical instruments have fostered renewed interest in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to diagnose and treat a variety of surgical conditions of the chest, which classically were managed exclusively by thoracotomy. Posttraumatic retained hemothorax currently is being managed at most institutions by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, with consistently good results.