PATNA, Nov. 11 -- Surgeons at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) successfully performed a thoracotomy on a 50-year-old man from Lakhisarai to remove 3.5 litres of clotted blood accumulated in his left chest cavity following trauma. The blood had remained trapped for nearly 20 days, causing respiratory distress and difficulty maintaining adequate oxygen levels. PMCH medical superintendent Dr Rajiva Kumar Singh said on Tuesday that the patient had a retained left-sided hemothorax, a condition in which blood accumulates in the pleural cavity following chest trauma. The prolonged collection had compressed the lung and restricted its expansion, necessitating surgical intervention. "If left untreated, retained hemothorax can lead to serious complications, including infection and empyema," Dr Singh said. The surgical team decided to perform a thoracotomy after assessing the patient's condition through chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, blood tests (including haemoglobin and coagulation profile), and oxygenation assessment. "The decision to proceed with thoracotomy depends on factors such as the volume and organisation of retained blood and the patient's respiratory condition," said Dr Harendra Kumar, who led the surgical team. He said blood trapped in the pleural cavity for an extended period could become organised or infected, making treatment more challenging. Timely diagnosis and appropriate surgical intervention are crucial, particularly when the patient has significant respiratory compromise, Dr Kumar added. Dr Kumar was assisted by Dr Umar Abdullah. The surgery was performed under the guidance of Dr Shishir Kumar, associate professor in the department of surgery. Dr Singh said the case highlighted the importance of timely diagnosis, sound clinical assessment and definitive surgical intervention in managing complex chest trauma....