Pulmonary function testing after operative stabilisation of the chest wall for flail chest.

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_19481
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Pulmonary function testing after operative stabilisation of the chest wall for flail chest.
Journal
European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
Author(s)
Lardinois D., Krueger T., Dusmet M., Ghisletta N., Gugger M., Ris H.B.
ISSN
1010-7940
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2001
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
20
Number
3
Pages
496-501
Language
english
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This is a prospective evaluation of chest wall integrity and pulmonary function in patients with operative stabilisation for flail chest injuries. METHODS: From 1990 to 1999, 66 patients (56 men, 10 women; mean age 52.6 years) with antero-lateral flail chest (> or =4 ribs fractured at > or =2 sites) underwent surgical stabilisation using reconstruction plates. Clinical assessment and pulmonary function testing were performed at 6 months following surgery. RESULTS: Fifty-five (83%) patients had various combinations of injuries of the thorax, head, abdomen and extremities. Sixty-three (95.5%) patients underwent unilateral and 3 (4.5%) patients bilateral stabilisation with a median delay of 2.8 days (range 0-21 days) from admission. The 30-day mortality was 11% (seven of 66 patients). Immediate postoperative extubation was feasible in 31 of 66 patients (47%) and extubation within 7 days following stabilisation in 56 of 66 patients (85%). No plate dislocation was observed during the follow-up. The shoulder girdle function was intact in 51 of 57 patients (90%). Chest wall complaints were noted in 6 of 57 (11%) patients, requiring removal of implants in three cases. All patients returned to work within a mean period of 8 (range 3-16) weeks following discharge. Pulmonary function testing (n=50) at 6 months after the operation revealed a significant difference of predicted vs. recorded vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) (P=0.04 and P=0.0001, respectively; Wilcoxon signed-rank test). The median ratio of the recorded and predicted total lung capacity (TLC) was shown to be significantly higher than 0.85 (P=0.0002; Wilcoxon signed-rank test), indicating prevention of pulmonary restriction. CONCLUSION: Antero-lateral flail chest injuries accompanied by respiratory insufficiency can be effectively stabilised using reconstruction plates. Early restoration of the chest wall integrity and respiratory pump function may be cost effective through the prevention of prolonged mechanical ventilation and restriction-related working incapacity.
Keywords
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Bone Plates, Female, Flail Chest/physiopathology, Flail Chest/surgery, Forced Expiratory Volume, Fracture Fixation, Internal, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Postoperative Complications, Prospective Studies, Respiratory Mechanics, Rib Fractures/surgery, Ribs/surgery, Total Lung Capacity, Vital Capacity
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
19/11/2007 12:14
Last modification date
14/02/2022 7:53
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