What is a Fibrothorax?
What is a Fibrothorax?
Fibrothorax is scarring or fibrosis of the visceral pleural caused by inflammation from pleural disease.
Is decortication a major surgery?
Lung decortication is a simple yet formidable procedure. It involves the excision of the thick fibrinous peel from the pleural surface, thereby permitting the expansion of the underlying lung parenchyma.
How is decortication performed?
Decortication can be performed using the following methods: minimally-invasive (small incisions of 2–3 inches long / general anesthesia), or open-surgery (large incisions of 8-10 inches long / general anesthesia). The type of method chosen will vary based on your medical condition.
Why is Decortication performed?
The goals in performing decortication are to remove all the fibrinous peel and necrotic tissue, to help the lung reexpand, and, equally important, not to leave any residual air spaces. The two most common problems encountered in performing decortication are pleural-cavity infection and fibrosis.
What is cardiac decortication?
Cardiac decortication (epicardiectomy) was performed whereby a thickened peel encasing the heart was surgically excised, resulting in vigorous contraction and expansion of the heart. In one patient, decortication occurred early after pneumonectomy and was incomplete.
How is Hemopneumothorax treated?
The main treatment for hemopneumothorax is called chest tube thoracostomy. This procedure involves placing a hollow plastic tube between the ribs into the area around the lungs in order to drain the air and blood. The tube may be connected to a machine to help with the drainage.
Which is the best way to treat fibrothorax?
Today, an established fibrothorax is optimally managed by thoracotomy and decortication of the lung. Timely evacuation of hemothorax, empyema, or large pleural effusions with expansion of the underlying lung is critical in the prevention of fibrothorax.
What kind of inflammatory disease is fibrothorax associated with?
Fibrothorax is defined as fibrosis within the pleural space, and occurs secondary to the inflammatory response to one of the following events: tuberculosis / tuberculous pleuritis – particularly as a late sequelae 3. thoracic empyema. asbestos related pleural disease. rheumatoid arthritis. haemothorax.
How does fibrothorax cause breathlessness in the chest?
Within the chest, the lung is compressed and unable to expand (trapped lung), making it vulnerable to collapse and causing breathlessness. Restrictive lung disease from fibrothorax may occur when pleural fibrosis is so severe that it involves the diaphragm and ribcage and results primarily from decreased rib movement.
What does a chest radiograph show for fibrothorax?
Patients with fibrothorax may be asymptomatic or complain of dyspnea. The chest radiograph typically shows concentric pleural thickening, occasionally with evidence of the predisposing cause. Reduction in the size of the hemithorax with an elevated hemidiaphragm suggests chronic fibrosis.