Short-term outcomes of chest wall resections

Chest wall resections (CWRs) pose a unique challenge for a thoracic surgeon by virtue of the complexities involved in maintaining anatomical integrity and functional dynamics of the region. We aimed at studying the outcomes of CWR from the thoracic surgery unit of a comprehensive cancer care centre located in a tier 2 city in India.

This is a retrospective study of all CWRs from our centre, between 15 January 2019 to 15 January 2025. Patients were identified from a prospectively maintained surgical database and electronic medical records.

A total of 12 cases were identified who underwent CWR in the said duration, and the majority were for sarcoma (5/12, 41.6%). Rib resections were needed in 10/12 (83.3%) cases, with the 3rd rib (5/12, 41.6%) being the most commonly resected; and multiple rib resections were needed in 7/12 (58.3%) patients. Mesh repair was used in the majority of patients for reconstruction (10/12, 83.3%). No major perioperative morbidity was observed in any of the patients in the first 30 days of surgery.

This study provides preliminary evidence for safe CWR being feasible at a low-volume thoracic surgical unit in India.