Rethoracotomy after lung and pleural surgery

The frequency of rethoracotomy after operations for diseases of the lungs and pleura was 2.2% - 101 out of 4537 interventions. 6 groups of complications were identified. Bleeding into the pleural cavity was observed in 20, hemothorax with clot formation - in 33, leakage of the remnant of the lung or bronchial stump - in 31, pleural empyema - in 11, foreign bodies - in 5, and impaired blood flow in the remainder of the lung - in 1 patient. The principles of diagnostics, indications and peculiarities of the technique of operations are stated. In 80 patients who underwent rethoracotomy, a favorable outcome was obtained; the mortality rate was 20.8%. The dependence of mortality, severity and number of complications on the timing of reoperation was established. The best results were obtained when carrying out rethoracotomy in the 1-3 days of the postoperative period.