There were 105 patients with multiple rib fracture or flail chest who had underwent surgical rib fixation using Judet's strut from Aug. 1989 to Aug. 1995. They were 86 men and 19 women, and the age distribution was from 17 to 77(mean 48+/-12). The most common cause of accident was a traffic accident(81%). The mean number of rib fracture was 5.5 and the distribution of patient were flail chest(72, 64.7%), severe displaced rib Fracture(18, 17.1%), traumatic chest wall deformity(10, 95%) and others(5, 4.7%). The operative mortality was 1 patient(0.96%) and the incidence of postoperative complication were 13 patients(12.3%). The duration of perioperative artificial ventilator therapy was 90.5+/-22.6 hours. Our method allowed shorter duration of an artificial ventilation and decreased a functional sequelae. We find this technique to be better than previously published methods, since it provides better stabilization and immobilization of the ribs and thus obviates the need for artificial ventilation and prevents post-traumatic chest deformity.
Age Distribution ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Flail Chest* ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Incidence ; Male ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Rib Fractures* ; Ribs* ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax ; Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical

Perimembranous ventricular septal defects(PMVSDs) are the most common type of ventricular septal defects(VSDs) and consist morphologically of deficiency of the membranous septum and variable portions of the adjacent muscular septum. Repair of VSD has begun via a right ventriculotomy. Even with this exposure, however, it mght lead to ventricular dysfunction. Transatrial exposure of VSDs is known to a versatile approach to PMVSDs and even malalignment defects can be repaired by this METHOD: Although transatrial exposure can be improved by taking down the atrioventricular valve at the annulus, surgeons have been hesitant to do so because of concern for valvular competence. Therefore, this study was undertaken to clarity the effects of transannular approach of tricuspid valve (TATV) at operation of PMVSD. During last 5 years, twenty eight cases from 96 patients of PMVSD were closed by TATV and follow up study was done from 3 months to 33 months and results were obtained as follows. 1. Age at operation was from 4 months to 38 years and most patients(17, 62%) were above 5 years. 2. Preoperative pulmonary-systemic flow ratio(Qp/Qs) was ranged from 1 to 2.8 and 22 patients(79%) were less than 2. 3. Peak systolic pulmonary artery pressure was below 30mmHg in 8, 30-50mmHg in 17, above 50mmHg in 3 patients and 25 patients(89%) were less than 50mmHg. 4. Preoperative tricuspid regurgitation(TR) is none in 12, trivial in 6, mild in 3, moderate in 5, severe in 2 patients but postoperative TR was none in 18, trivial in 6, mild in 4 patients, so TR in most patients had decreased or not. 5. Indications for operation were based on the presence of a significant shunt. However, in patients with small shunts, indications for operation were included additional factors, tricuspid valve pouch, RVOT obstruction(right ventricular outflow tract obstruction), subacute bacterial endocarditis and associated anomalies. 6. There were no hospital deaths and residual shunts in postoperative echocardiography. Therefore, TATV is especially a good method in PMVSD where patients have trcuspid valve pouch. And it is a safe and effective technique that improves exposure for PMVSD repair and does not adversely affect tricuspid valvular competence.
Echocardiography ; Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mental Competency ; Pulmonary Artery ; Tricuspid Valve ; Ventricular Dysfunction

Twenty-three patients underwent operations to repair a congenital heart disease through right anterolateral thoracotomy(RALT) between December 1989 and December 1996. Defects repaired 22 atrial septum(13 ostium secundum;3 lower sepal defect;4 posterior septal defect;1 sinus venosus;1 ostium primum) and 1 ventricular septal defect. There was no operative mortality or late morbidity directly related to RALT. The RALT incision is a safe and effective method to a median sternotomy in selective patients(especicially female). The cosmetic results are very good during the follow up periods.
Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Humans ; Mortality ; Sternotomy ; Thoracic Surgery* ; Thoracotomy*