In all 47 patients, complete decortication was achieved either by VATS or open thoracotomy procedures. The success rate in attaining complete decortications was 42.10% for VATS and 100% for open thoracotomy. Complete lung expansion post-procedure was observed in 31 (66%) patients. Complete lung expansion, determined through the observation of the expansion of the decorticated lung reaching the rib cage on ventilation by the anesthetist on the table. The remaining 16 (34%) patients had poor lung compliance secondary to fibrosis, which was probably due to advanced disease.
Underwater seal drainage was placed in all the patients. The drain was removed once the air leak had stopped and/or drainage was <50mL. In 12 patients, the drain was removed on the second post-operative day. The drain was removed in <5 days in 17 patients, whereas 9 patients needed the drain for an average of 10 days; meanwhile, 6 patients needed the drain for >2 weeks. Three patients died.
Author(s) Details:
Vikram Sindgikar,
Department of General Surgery, BLDEDU’s Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India.
Tejaswini Vallabha,
Department of General Surgery, BLDEDU’s Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India.
Mallikarjun Patil,
Department of General Surgery, BLDEDU’s Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India.
Girish Kullolli,
Department of General Surgery, BLDEDU’s Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India.
Samhitha Reddy,
Department of General Surgery, BLDEDU’s Shri B M Patil Medical College Hospital, Vijayapur, Karnataka, India.