Treatment for Anterior Flail Chest With a Vacuum Bell.

Clermidy, Hugo; Nerot, Alexandre; Chappuy, Benjamin; Herault, Marie-Christine; Frey, Gil; Brichon, Pierre-Yves · Ann Thorac Surg · 2020

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

We describe a patient with polytrauma that included anterior chest flail caused by a fall while climbing. As the situation was similar to a pectus excavatum, we attempted to stabilize the depressed chest wall by using a vacuum bell. Deep breath, peak flow, and pectus index were increased when the patient used the vacuum bell. Conservative treatment with a vacuum bell during the day and continuous positive airway pressure during the night was undertaken for 6 weeks. This report documents stabilization of an anterior flail chest using a vacuum bell.

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