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Programs and Services
Chest Wall Surgery, Mesothelioma
and Other Services
Chest Wall SurgeryUnique to Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin is the practice of “plating” rib fractures in the event of traumatic injury. Traditionally, rib fractures have been left to heal on their own. However, in some cases, trauma patients may benefit from having their ribs plated to reconnect and stabilize them. The technique is similar to the way an ankle or wrist fracture might be plated. Emerging research suggests that this approach can reduce acute and chronic pain and improve outcomes for patients with rib fractures.
Chest wall surgery may also be necessary to treat tumors, both primary chest wall tumors and those that have metastasized (spread) from cancer in other areas of the body. Chest wall tumors are not common, and our team has the experience to not only successfully remove the tumor, but also reconstruct the chest wall itself.
We also perform chest wall reconstruction for congenital deformities in adults such as pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum.
Mesothelioma This rare and deadly form of cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos and affects the mesothelium, the lining that surrounds many of the body’s internal organs. The part of this lining that protects the lungs is also known as the pleura.
Pleural mesothelioma is often treated with radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin are among the few institutions in the area that will perform a procedure called an extrapleural pneumonectomy, which involves removal of the lung. A less extensive procedure, called a pleurectomy, which involves removal of the pleura or lining covering the lungs, can be done in some cases
Other Services and Procedures
- Mediastinal masses; there are a variety of approaches and a number of minimally invasive options for treating these masses, depending on their location and size
- Laser and stenting procedures in bronchi, trachea and esophagus
- Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis
- Pleural diseases, including tumors, fluid collections and infections
- Lung surgery, including treatment for abscesses and diagnostic procedures
For anyone facing thoracic disease or requiring surgical treatment, it’s important to receive a thorough evaluation based on your individual case. It’s also important to understand all treatment options available to you and have the best information to help you make an informed decision about your own treatment.
Author: Joan Cotter Pike Date: Nov. 30, 2006 |
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