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External stabilization of flail chest using continuous negative extrathoracic pressure.
1Department of Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville.
Chest
|October 11, 1992
Summary
A temporary external chest shell stabilized flail chest in a long-term ventilated patient. This method improved pulmonary function, leading to permanent chest wall stabilization via bone grafting.
Area of Science:
- Thoracic surgery
- Respiratory medicine
- Biomedical engineering
Background:
- Persistent flail chest deformities can occur after total sternectomy, necessitating long-term mechanical ventilation.
- Flail chest significantly impairs respiratory function and patient outcomes.
Observation:
- A patient with long-term ventilation due to flail chest was treated with a temporary external chest shell.
- This device delivered constant negative extrathoracic pressure (CNEP).
Findings:
- The external chest shell stabilized the patient's anterior thoracic cage.
- Significant improvements in pulmonary function were observed during CNEP application.
Implications:
- CNEP via an external chest shell is a viable temporary solution for flail chest.
- This approach can facilitate subsequent permanent chest wall reconstruction, such as bone grafting.