[Preservation of pulmonary function by chest wall reconstruction].
Thirteen mongrel dogs were resected 4 ribs with surrounding tissue. Eight dogs had the chest wall closed by skin alone, and in five animals, the chest wall reconstructed by a polyethylene mesh or marlex sandwich. In the latter PaO2 was significantly higher than that of animals not undergoing reconstruction 3 days after operation. Pulmonary function was appeared to be preserved by reconstruction. Clinically, 68 cases underwent chest wall resection and in 28 cases, defects were reconstructed. Although only portions of 1 or 2 ribs were resected in the non-reconstructed cases, VC, FEV1, and TLC significantly dropped post-operatively. In the reconstructed cases, VC significantly dropped postoperatively. Post-operative complications occurred in 3.6% of the reconstructed cases and in 9.8% of the non-reconstructed cases. Since only 1 rib resection led to reduced ventilatory function clinically, reconstruction for small chest wall defects appears advisable for maintaining pulmonary function.
Niwa
H
H
Second Department of Surgery, Nagoya City University, Medical School, Japan.
Yamakawa
Y
Y
Kobayashi
S
S
Kasugai
T
T
Masaoka
A
A
Mizuno
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012119:Respiration; D013905:Thoracoplasty