[Chest wall reconstruction, relation between reconstruction method and infection].

We have operated 52 cases of chest wall resection in these 20 years. Twenty five cases in it were reconstructed by unabsorbable artificial materials such as Marlex mesh, Gore-Tex sheet and some others (Group 1). Eleven cases were covered with the net knitted by absorbable threads or muscle flaps (Group 2). Resting 16 cases have not received any definitive renovations (Group 3). Group 1 has suffered from such severe postoperative complications as acute empyema (8%) and chronic empyema (8%). Few cases in Group 2 has had infectious complication and ventilatory disturbance. Rate of postoperative vital capacity in Group 3 was the lowest value among three groups, though they had the smallest chest wall defects. We obtained following conclusions from this study. Every chest wall defect should be repaired by some way even if the defect were small. Chest wall defect in compromised host should be repaired by absorbable artificial material and muscle flap. Unabsorbable artificial materials are now indispensable for the reconstruction of large chest wall defect, however we must fully take care of postoperative infections in cases of its use.