Aetiology

This condition may be a complication of:

• chest injury, for example rib fracture
• pneumothorax, from ruptured vessels within pleural adhesions
• pulmonary infarct
• administration of anticoagulant therapy - use of anticoagulant therapy may potentiate the ability of a chest injury or rupture of pleural adhesions to cause a haemothorax

Other rare causes include:

• bleeding disorders
• vascular pleural metastases
• pleural endometriosis
• spontaneous haemothorax (generally left-sided) may occur with acute aortic dissection