1.Objective: To describe the diagnostic and surgical treatment characteristics of patients with hemothorax and/or pneumothorax caused by blunt chest trauma at Viet Duc University Hospital during the period 2022–2023.
2.Methods: A retrospective descriptive study. All patients were evaluated using a standardized data collection form, focusing on clinical symptoms, chest X-ray findings, surgical methods, and early treatment outcomes.
3.Results: Surgery was the main treatment modality for blunt chest trauma. The majority of cases were managed with tube thoracostomy (,6%), while only 12,3% required thoracotomy. The mean age was 48,8 ± 14,8 years; males accounted for 74,9% of patients. The leading cause of injury was traffic accidents (53,2%). The most common condition was hemopneumothorax (75,3%). Rib fractures were present in most patients (93,5%). Associated injuries included traumatic brain injury (28,1%), blunt abdominal trauma (16,3%), and bone and joint injuries (35%). Surgical treatment consisted of chest tube drainage in 87,6% and thoracotomy in 12,4% of cases. Treatment outcomes were good in 79,8% of patients, with a mean chest tube duration of 5,2 ± 2,4 days.
4.Conclusion: Surgical management of hemothorax and/or pneumothorax due to blunt chest trauma at Viet Duc University Hospital achieved good early outcomes and a low complication rate.