Flail chest surgery
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Flail chest Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Flail chest surgery On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Flail chest surgery |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Surgery
Treatment of the flail chest initially follows the principles of Advanced Trauma Life Support. Further treatment includes:
- Good analgesia including intercostal blocks, avoiding narcotic analgesics as much as possible. This allows much better ventilation, with improved tidal volume, and increased blood oxygenation.
- Positive ventilation, meticulosly adjusting the ventilator settings to avoid barotrauma.
- Chest tubes as required.
- Adjustment of position to make the patient most comfortable and provide relief of pain.
Surgical fixation is usually not required.