[Clinical studies on reconstruction procedure of total layer chest wall resection]

The results of clinical studies on 16 reconstruction procedure after total layer chest wall resection in 14 cases of malignant tumor of the chest wall were reported. The 14 cases consisted of two cases with recurrent primary chest wall tumor, two cases of primary breast cancer, seven cases of recurrent breast cancer, and others. The reconstruction procedure after total layer chest wall resection was conducted using only various myocutaneous flaps (eight cases using latissimus dorsi of the resected side, three cases using the abdominitis of the resected side, three cases using latissimus dorsi of the non-resected side, and two cases using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap of the non-resected side). reconstruction only using a myocutaneous flap proved to be satisfactory for preventing early stage postoperative respiratory distress and maintaining the stability of the chest wall and respiratory function during prolonged observation. Namely, use of myocutaneous flap is the best approach of reconstruction the chest wall after total layer chest wall resection. We confirmed that reconstruction with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous free flap of the non-resected side with microvascular anastomosis of thoracodorsal vessels was useful for posterior chest wall tumors invading the latissimus dorsi muscle. Also, our results demonstrated the insertion of an omental flap under the myocutaneous flap was useful for cases with secondary chest wall infection or vascular damage caused by preoperative high dose irradiation.