title: Control of respiratory therapy in flail chest.
abstract: Pulmonary mechanics and oxygenation were measured in 24 consecutive patients with posttraumatic flail chest requiring continuous mechanical ventilation. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was fourteen days. Mortality was 38% for all patients, 29% if deaths from head injury are excluded. Pneumonia occurred in 4 patients (17%) and pneumothorax in 1 (4%). Vital capacity and maximal inspiratory force measurements were useful in assessing chest wall stabilization. Total lung compliance correlated negatively with fatal outcome from respiratory failure. The alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient was not useful in assessing chest wall stabilization.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D011015:Pneumonia, Aspiration / Q000209:etiology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000209:etiology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012253:Rib Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen