Azygos and right superior intercostal vein injury secondary to blunt trauma: a case report

Abstract

Azygos vein injuries are rare consequences of blunt trauma. When there is high drainage output from a right-sided intercostal catheter, an azygos injury must be considered in the differential diag-nosis. We report the case of a 38-year-old male patient involved in a fall from a height during a mo-torcycle accident. Computed tomography demonstrated a large right-sided hemothorax and left-sid-ed pneumothorax. The patient was transferred to the operating theatre and underwent a clamshell thoracotomy. A laceration in the azygos vein at the confluence of the arch of the azygos and the right superior intercostal vein was identified. Bleeding was controlled at the trifurcation. The patient sur-vive..