TECHNICAL NOTES   

Chirurgia 1999 October;12(5):373-8

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Chest wall reconstruction using plates and prosthetic materials after tumor resection

Briccoli A.

The removal of large thoracic wall tumors can lead to satisfactory prognostic results only if an extremely wide resection is performed. The difficulties of subsequent chest-wall reconstruction should not limit the aggressiveness of oncologic surgery. A satisfactory recovery of the respiratory function should also be strongly pursued. Several reconstructive surgical methods, involving the use of both autologous and heterologous materials, have been proposed. This study reports personal experience in 24 cases where the wide chest-wall defect was reconstructed by a Marlex° Mesh associated with a mouldable metallic plates. In these patients this technique permitted a rapid recovery with no significant respiratory volume deficit and septic complications.