RECONSTRUCTION OF CHEST-WALL DEFECTS FOLLOWING EXTIRPATIVE SURGERY

Reconstructive procedures following chest wall resection pose a specia l surgical challenge. With modem surgical technique, a wide range of r econstructive options are at the surgeon's disposal and, hence it is i mperative that the appropriate procedure be selected in a given patien t. A total of 64 patients underwent resection of malignant chest wall tumors at the Tata Memorial Hospital. The technique of preference at o ur institution for reconstruction of full-thickness chest wall defects uses a combination of autogenous fascia lata and Marlex(R) mesh. We p resent our experience with chest wall reconstruction following extirpa tive surgery in these patients. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.