What is open decortication?
Decortication is a type of surgical procedure performed to remove a fibrous tissue that has abnormally formed on the surface of the lung, chest wall or diaphragm.
Is decortication a major surgery?
Like any major surgery, decortication may be associated with certain risks and complications, which are usually manageable. Some common complications are: Infection. Air leak from the lung.
What is an open thoracotomy?
A thoracotomy is surgery to open your chest. During this procedure, a surgeon makes an incision in the chest wall between your ribs, usually to operate on your lungs. Through this incision, the surgeon can remove part or all of a lung.
How long does a decortication surgery take?
During a decortication procedure: The surgery takes around 5 hours and often causes a moderate amount of blood loss, so extra blood is always kept on-hand in case the patient needs an emergency transfusion.
Is Bullectomy painful?
You’ll wake up from your bullectomy with a breathing tube in your chest and an intravenous tube. This can be uncomfortable, but pain medications can help manage the pain at first. You’ll stay in the hospital about three to seven days. Full recovery from a bullectomy usually takes a few weeks after the procedure.
How long does a Pleurectomy last?
Depending on the aim of the surgery, the procedure generally takes between two and four hours. Your surgical team will be led by a thoracic surgeon accompanied by an anesthesiologist, an operating room nurse, an anesthesia nurse, and a circulating nurse.
Is there a role for open thoracotomy and decortication?
Open thoracotomy and decortication is perceived to be synonymous with protracted recovery and prolonged hospitalisation. Advocates of thoracoscopic adhesiolysis cite earlier chest drain removal and hospital discharge. This paper challenges traditional prejudice towards open surgery.
What are the principles of open decortication in surgery?
The principles of open decortication should be followed while utilizing thoracoscopic technology. All areas of fibrinous material must be drained and the underlying lung freed from a restricting pleural peel to allow for complete re expansion.
Are there any other indications for thoracoscopic decortication?
Other indications for thoracoscopic decortication include hemothorax [5] and mediastinal debridement in patients with descending mediastinitis [6]. Prior thoracotomy, prior talc pleurodesis, and previous empyema are relative contraindication to thoracoscopy.
When is thoracoscopic decortication proven in the management of empyema?
Thoracoscopic decortication is now proven in the management of empyema and the time elapsed since the origin of the empyema and the surgical intervention is probably most predictive of the ability to perform the operation successfully [3, 7].