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==Introduction==

==Description==

Haemorrhagic effusions occur when blood leaks into a body cavity (the thorax, abdomen or pericardial sac).  This occurs most commonly when a blood vessel is ruptured or eroded or when an organ ruptures.  The fluid from acute haemorrhagic effusions resembles whole blood (with platelet clumps and leucocytes) but the fluid from more chronic effusions will not contain platelets, will not clot and will contain macrophages (or haemosiderophages) that have begun to phagocytose the haem pigment degradation product haemosiderin that is released from lysed red blood cells .  Causes of haemorrhagic effusions include:

Haemorrhagic effusions occur when blood leaks into a body cavity (the thorax, abdomen or pericardial sac).  This occurs most commonly when a blood vessel is ruptured or eroded or when an organ ruptures.  The fluid from acute haemorrhagic effusions resembles whole blood (with platelet clumps and leucocytes) but the fluid from more chronic effusions will not contain platelets, will not clot and will contain macrophages (or haemosiderophages) that have begun to phagocytose the haem pigment degradation product haemosiderin that is released from lysed red blood cells .  Causes of haemorrhagic effusions include:

*'''Traumatic''' rupture of a blood vessel or of an organ.  The spleen is most likely to rupture after blunt abdominal trauma but the kidney or liver may also be affected.  The presence of blood in the pleural cavity ('''haemothorax''') may occur when fractured ribs lacerate blood vessels within the chest.  Manual ablation of corpora lutea in cattle may also cause intra-abdominal haemorrhage and ovarobursal adhesions.

*'''Traumatic''' rupture of a blood vessel or of an organ.  The spleen is most likely to rupture after blunt abdominal trauma but the kidney or liver may also be affected.  The presence of blood in the pleural cavity ('''haemothorax''') may occur when fractured ribs lacerate blood vessels within the chest.  Manual ablation of corpora lutea in cattle may also cause intra-abdominal haemorrhage and ovarobursal adhesions.

Pericardial effusions that are causing tamponade should be drained by pericardiocentesis but, if the effusion is recurrent, pericardectomy may be indicated.  

Pericardial effusions that are causing tamponade should be drained by pericardiocentesis but, if the effusion is recurrent, pericardectomy may be indicated.  

[[Category:Effusions]]

[[Category:Effusions]]

[[Category:Expert_Review]]

[[Category:Expert_Review]]