Abstract
Decortication is a surgical procedure that consists in restoring the ventilatory function of the lung by removing the constricting membrane that compresses it over the mediastinum. The constricting membrane is the last stage of loculated and complicated pleural effusions: haemothorax, empyemas, pleural tuberculosis, various other pleural diseases and sequellae of earlier collapsotherapeutic procedures. Decortication typically involves removal of the entire complicated pleural disease, freeing the visceral pleura (decortication strico sensu) and the parietal pleura (pleurectomy). After decortication the lung can expand again and improved functioning can be expected. Multiple technical procedures are available. When the pleural thickening is induced by underlying lung disease, it may be necessary to resect the underlying diseased parenchyma during the same intervention. In chronic parapneumonic empyemas, the current availability of video-assisted procedures allows to avoid thoracotomy for decortication.
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