Limited thoracotomy in the pediatric patient.
Thirty-one children underwent 33 limited thoracotomies between 1973 and 1979. Adequate tissue for diagnosis was obtained in each case, and subsequent therapy was influenced in 91%. The preoperative diagnosis was confirmed in 61% and corrected in 36%. One death may have been hastened by the procedure, but all others were related to the underlying disease process. There were very few complications, the most common being pneumothorax. The routine use of a chest tube postoperatively seems to reduce the frequency of pneumothoraces. The average duration of the operation was 50 minutes. We believe that limited thoracotomy is a safe and rapid method of obtaining lung tissue and almost always ensures adequate tissue for diagnosis.
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects