USE OF A SURGICAL SPONGE FACILITATES RIB RESECTION IN FLANK INCISIONS

Dissection of the rib in a flank incision is often tedious and difficu lt. Entry into the pleural space and subcostal nerve injury are two fr equent complications. in an effort to reduce the frequency of these co mplications and to facilitate the ease of rib dissection and resection , we describe a technique that uses a moistened surgical sponge to dis sect free the posterior surface of the rib. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc.