Traumatic Pneumonectomy

27 year old male came as a trauma patient after he was involved in a high speed car crash. He sustained bilateral pulmonary contusions and right hemopneumothorax. He continued to bleed from his right chest. He was taken to OR for thoracotomy.

Intraoperatively, he was found to have severe right lung damage. Pneumonectomy (lung removal) had to be performed to prevent exsanguination.

On a Chest XR above please note complete absence of the right lung as well as the evidence of thoracotomy.