Parietal pleurectomy was devised as definitive treatment in a series of 50 patients with persistent or recurrent pneumothorax. There have been no significant complications; 3-5 year follow-up has shown no recurrence, indicating that pleurectomy is a safe and reliable procedure and preferred to chemically or mechanically induced pleuritis because it entails fewer complications and shortens hospitalization.
A series of 250 patients with oesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia were treated at North Middlesex Hospital, London, the Regional Cardiothoracic Centre, between 1968-72. These patients received surgical treatment by the "Belsey Mark IV technique" and there were no significant complications. The 7--10 year follow-up showed in 8.4% actual recurrence which was of a combined functional and anatomical nature. In 2% of the cases hernia was demonstrated only by radiology, but there was no evidence of recurrent reflux. The majority of recurrences occurred within two years of initial operation. The patients with recurrences, who underwent the second Mark IV repair, had excellent results. The improving quality of the life in the successful cases was dramatic. This series indicates that the Belsey Mark IV repair is a safe and reliable procedure and gives excellent results with relief of all symptoms.
The purpose of this presentation is to review our experience in the correction of pectus excavatum deformity over the past 25 years, to draw attention to some details of importance in securing an excellent end result, and to describe a slight technical modification which improves the cosmetic effect of the surgical procedure. Seventy-five operations were performed between 1951 and 1975 at the North Middlesex Hospital, Regional Cardiothoracic Centre, Edmonton, London, according to the various techniques known during that period. Results were variable until the introduction, 10 years ago, of an operation combining extensive resection of costal-cartilages (34, 35) and stabilization of the sternum (2, 3). Of 37 operations performed during the last 10 years, 35 have given excellent long-term results. The cosmetic results in our hands have been achieved by the use of a stainless steel plate passed beneath the sternum and left in situ for not more than 6 months.
One hundred patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia were treated at the North Middlesex Hospital, Regional Cardiothoracic Centre, between 1968 and 1969. All patients received surgical treatment by the Belsey mark IV technique with no significant complications. The 9-10 year follow-up has shown a recurrence rate of 10 per cent. The majority of recurrences occurred within 2 years of the initial operation. Seven of these recurrences had excellent results after a second mark IV repair. The improved quality of life in the successful cases was dramatic. This series indicates that a left transthoracic mark IV type of repair is a safe and reliable procedure and gives excellent results with relief of symptoms.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.