• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.40 no.7 s.276
• /
• pp.485-491
• /
• 2007

Background: Thoracoplasty has become a rarity in current clinical practice, although it has been widely employed for well over a century as a procedure for reducing the capacity of the thoracic cavity. Yet we have perform tailoring thoracoplasty following or concomitant with pulmonary resection in 20 patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the early and late clinical results and also the significance of tailoring thoracoplasty. Material and Method: From March 1995 to June 2005, modified thoracoplasty following or concomitant with pulmonary resection was performed in 20 patients out of a total of 298 pulmonary resections for closing air leaks and for treating persistent pleural space following pulmonary resections, and to tailor the thoracic cavity to accept a diminished lung volume. Of the 20 patients, 14 patients had tailoring thoracoplasty performed concomitant with pulmonary resection, and the remaining 6 patients also had tailoring thoracoplasty performed following pulmonary resection. The subjects ages ranged from 24 to 77 (mean $59.1{\pm}6.4$) and a male preponderance was noted (17 : 3); the number of left and right surgeries was equal. The preoperative primary underlying diseases were lung cancer in 7 patients, pneumothorax with giant bullous change in 6 patients, bronchiectasis in 2 patients, previous pulmonary tuberculosis associated with aspergilloma in 2 patients, empyema with fibrothorax in 2 patients and multiple lung abscesses & destruction due to previous trauma in 1 patient. The operative methods were apicolysis and subperiosteal removal of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ribs (the costochondral junction to the posterior portions of the ribs) with preservation of the first rib and compression of the anterior chest via cotton bags and elastic bandages. Result: The mean duration of the air leaks after thoracoplasty was $1.6{\pm}0.2$ days (range: $0{\sim}7$ days) and the mean duration of an indwelling chest tube was 7 days (range: $5{\sim}11$ days); the mean duration of hospitalization was $19.2{\pm}2.8$ days (range: $8{\sim}47$ days). The postoperative complications were wound infection (2) and pneumonia (2); reoperation was done due to bleeding (1) in one patient who underwent concomitant thoracoplasty and there was 1 case of wound infection (1) after postresection thoracoplasty. The mortality was 1 patient in the early phase and 4 patients in the late phase. Conclusion: We conclude that tailoring thoracoplasty may be performed to close anticipated persistent pleural spaces and to accommodate the diminished lung volume with acceptable cosmetic results when this procedure is combined with pulmonary resection in selected patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.396-401
• /
• 1997

Tailoring thoracoplasty is employed prior to, following, or concomitant with pulmonary resection when it is anticipated that insufHclent lung tissue will remain to fill the pleural space following a pulmonary resection. This study reviewed a series of eight patients treated with tailoring thoracoplasty between 1990 and 1995. Indications were to close a persistent space In four patients and to tailor the thoracic cavity to accept diminished lung volume concomitant with a pulmonary resection in the other four patients. The primary underlying disease was lung cancer in three patients and pulmonary tuberculosis In five patients, two of whom had concomitant aspcrgilloma, two, pneumothora , and one, empyema with bronchopleural fistula. In four patients with a prior pulmonary resection, the tailoring thoracoplasty was performed within eight days after the resection surgery. There was no failure to accommodate the thoracic cavity to insufficient lung tissue, even though two patients needed a second thoracoplasty. We conclude that tailoring thoracoplasty may be performed to close anticipated persistent pleural space and to accommodate diminished lung volume with acceptable cosmetic results Early, after, or concomitant with pulmonary resection in selected patients.