Flat Chest Research Articles

Goldilocks mastectomy; a modified technique enhancing the aesthetic outcome presented as a single center single-arm prospective cohort study

BackgroundGoldilocks mastectomy represents a midway solution for breast reconstruction between flat chest and sophisticated reconstructive techniques. The literature lacks a standardization of the technique. In this study, we present a step-by-step approach with modifications in the original technique achieving better breast shape and contour within the context of standardization of the technique. MethodsA single arm prospective study was conducted at our center in which female patients with large ptotic breasts indicated for mastectomy were included. Patients with locally advanced skin changes, inflammatory carcinoma, stage IV disease as well as male patients were excluded. Recruited patients were subjected to the same surgical steps. Contralateral breast symmetrization was performed by reduction technique to patients who accepted this. All patients were requested to report their degree of satisfaction according to a simple 5-point Likert scale. Follow up mammogram was performed to all patients 1 year after the procedure. ResultsA total of 55 patients were included with a median (IQR) age of 56.0 (50.0–62.0) years. The median (IQR) BMI was 41.20 (36.55–44.35)Kg/m2. The median (IQR)operative time was 115.0 (105.0–120.0) minutes. Complications were encountered in 12 patients (21.8 %). The follow up period ranged from 19 to 66 months with a median (IQR) 36.0 (28.0–45.0)months. 98.2 % of the studied patients were either satisfied or extremely satisfied. ConclusionsGoldilocks mastectomy is a valid mastectomy option for selected patients with large ptotic breasts. Standardization of the surgical steps can help in improving the aesthetic outcome.

Understanding the Mechanisms of Main Bronchial Compression in Patients with Intracardiac Anomalies

BackgroundThe study focuses on vascular compression of the main bronchus in the aortopulmonary space, examining potential contributors within the same axial plane. Its goal is to uncover mechanisms of bronchial compression in patients with intracardiac anomalies and review surgical outcomes, aiming to enhance future results. MethodsThe morphology and topology of structures within the axial plane of the aortopulmonary space were objectively analyzed, including the sternum, ascending aorta, heart, pulmonary artery, descending aorta, and other relevant elements. Identified deviations from the normal configuration were systematically identified. Operative procedures included mobilizing and removing the compressing vessel, followed by suspending the airway wall to a rigid prosthesis (external stenting), vertebra, or ascending aorta. ResultsComputed tomography revealed potential factors contributing to bronchial stenosis, including anteriorly deviated descending aorta (20 patients), dilated pulmonary artery (6), cardiomegaly (12), flat chest (7), funnel chest (3), posteriorly deviated ascending aorta after arterial switch operation (3), low aortic arch (3), and aberrant subclavian artery (2). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated operative survival rates of 96% at 1 year, 87% at 5 years, and 80% at 8-15 years. Ten-year follow-up computed tomography after external stenting procedure revealed the narrowest diameter of the stented bronchus as 94.4% of the reference. ConclusionsConsistent long-term airway patency was observed post-surgery. While the pulmonary artery and descending aorta exert direct compressive effects in most cases, various other potential mechanisms may contribute to bronchial compression. Identifying and addressing these factors through a multidisciplinary approach is crucial for sustaining bronchial patency and preventing complications.

A Phase II Study Evaluating the Effect of Intensity Modulated Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy on Implant Failure Rates in Breast Cancer Patients With Immediate, 2-Stage Implant Reconstruction With an MRI Imaging Correlative Substudy

BackgroundPostmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) is a mainstay in the adjuvant treatment of node-positive breast cancer, but it poses risks for women with breast reconstruction. Multi-beam intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) improves dose conformality and homogeneity, potentially reducing complications in breast cancer patients with implant-based reconstruction. To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted a single-arm phase II clinical trial of breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy/axillary dissection and prosthesis-based reconstruction. MethodsThe primary endpoint was the rate of implant failure within 24 months of permanent implant placement, which would be considered an improvement over historical controls if below 16%. Implant failure (IF) was defined as removal leading to a flat chest wall or replacement with another reconstruction. Patients were analyzed in two cohorts. Cohort 1 (RT-PI) received RT to the permanent implant (PI). Cohort 2 (RT-TE) received RT to the TE. Implant failure rates, adverse events, and quality of life (QOL) were analyzed. Follow-up/post-RT assessments were compared to the baseline/pre-RT assessments at 3-10 weeks after exchange surgery. A subgroup underwent serial MRIs to explore the association of MRI-detected changes with capsular contracture, a known adverse effect of RT. ResultsBetween June 2014 and March 2017, 119 women were enrolled. Cohort 1 included 45 patients, and Cohort 2 had 74 patients. Among 100 evaluable participants, 25 experienced IF during the study period. IF occured in 8/42 (19%) and 17/58 (29%) in Cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. Among the IFs, the majority were due to capsular contracture (13), infection (7), exposure (3), and other reasons (2). Morphological shape features observed in longitudinal MRI images were associated with the development of Baker grade 3-4 contracture. ConclusionsThe rate of implant failure in reconstructed breast cancer patients treated with IMRT was similar to, but not improved over, conventional, 3D-conformal methods. MRI imaging features show promise for predicting capsular contracture but require validation in larger studies.

Unilateral flat chest wall in a child

Unilateral flat chest wall in a child

Partial pressure of carbon dioxide levels reflect disease severity in idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis

BackgroundHypercapnia can cause a disturbance of consciousness and adversely affect a patient's general condition. Patients with interstitial lung disease seldom experience hypercapnia. Hypercapnia is a typical phenomenon in patients with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE), especially in advanced stages. However, the clinical significance of hypercapnia in patients with idiopathic PPFE (iPPFE) has not been studied in detail. MethodsWe retrospectively selected patients with iPPFE who had undergone blood gas analysis. The first blood gas data obtained after iPPFE diagnosis were examined. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) levels and their association with characteristic iPPFE parameters, including the flat chest index (the ratio of the anteroposterior diameter of the thoracic cage to the transverse diameter of the thoracic cage), were investigated. ResultsA total of 47 patients with iPPFE were included in this study. The PCO2 level was moderately and inversely correlated with the forced vital capacity. (r = −0.431, P = 0.014), flat chest index (r = −0.497, P < 0.001), and body mass index (r = −0.313, P = 0.038) and was positively correlated with residual volume/total lung capacity. (r = 0.514, P < 0.01). A higher PCO2 level was also significantly associated with poorer prognosis in patients with iPPFE. ConclusionsPCO2 levels could be used as an indicator of disease severity in patients with iPPFE.

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Parietal pleural small holes found in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax associated with relatively mild chest wall flatness: a retrospective study.

BackgroundDuring surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax, parietal pleural small holes (PPSHs) are occasionally found around the apex of the intrapleural space; however, this has not been well recognized. Additionally, chest wall flatness is usually observed in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) and PPSHs. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of PPSH and evaluate the characteristics of patients with PPSH. We also investigated the degree of chest wall flatness in patients with PPSHs.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent thoracoscopic surgery for pneumothorax at our department between April 2014 and May 2021. A propensity-matched analysis was used to compare the characteristics of patients with and without PPSH.ResultsA total of 490 patients were enrolled in this study. PPSH was found in 45 of 297 (15.2%) patients with PSP and one of 193 (0.5%) patients with secondary pneumothorax. PSP was independently associated with the presence of PPSH after adjusting for age and sex [primary/secondary, odds ratio (OR) =34.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.7–250.9; P<0.001]. Among patients with PSP, the flatness of the chest wall in patients with PPSH was not as severe as that in patients without PPSH {thoracic anteroposterior diameter (APDT) to transverse diameter (TDT) ratio; with PPSH: median =0.517 [interquartile range (IQR) =0.480–0.554] vs. without PPSH: median =0.487 (IQR =0.463–0.529; P=0.031)} after propensity score matching.ConclusionsPPSH is found in a non-negligible proportion of patients with PSP, and patients with PPSHs show a relatively mild flat chest among patients with PSP. Clinicians should be aware of PPSH, and further understanding of this condition may contribute to a better understanding of PSP.

Minimally invasive surgery for flat chest: Wung procedure + Wenlin procedure

Flat chest is a special thoracic deformity, which is mainly characterized by flat anterior chest wall. Because the deformity may be combined with mild depression, Nuss procedure was used in the past. However, due to the lack of appropriate fulcrum, this kind of surgery often ends in failure. We designed a special method to treat this deformity. First, we use Wung procedure to change the figure of anterior chest wall into the shape of middle protrusion and bilateral depression, and then we use Wenlin procedure to perform micro-plastic surgery for the chest wall. In this process, we made full use of the advantages of template plastic surgery, so that the advantages of the two procedures were fully reflected, and finally achieved satisfactory results. In this paper, we report the use of this method in a young male patient with flat chest.

Thoracic mediastinal-occupying ratio predicts recovery and prognosis after lung transplantation.

OBJECTIVESEven after transplantation of favourable donor lungs, some recipients require prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation, indicating a poor prognosis. We investigated the effects of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) for >14 days on the recovery and survival of patients who underwent cadaveric lung transplantation in relation to their physical traits.METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent cadaveric lung transplantation (age ≥15 years) at a single centre between April 2015 and December 2020 and classified them into PMV and non-PMV groups (>14 and ≤14 days of mechanical ventilation postoperatively, respectively). The factors predicting PMV comprised clinical factors (e.g. marginal donor) and physical features, namely flat chest, narrow fourth intercostal space (length, <5 mm), mediastinal shift, thoracic mediastinal-occupying ratio (TMOR) >40% and sarcopenia, according to the logistic regression analysis. The log-rank test was used to examine the association between TMOR >40% and 3-year prognosis.RESULTSThe PMV group comprised 17 (33%) of 51 recipients. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that the TMOR >40% (odds ratio, 7.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–40.1; P = 0.023) was an independent preoperative predictive factor for PMV postoperatively. Stepwise analysis revealed intraoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and reoperation as postoperative predictive factors in addition to TMOR >40%. Recipients with TMOR >40% had significantly worse 3-year survival than other recipients (71.2% vs 100.0%, respectively; P = 0.008).CONCLUSIONSRecipients with a TMOR >40% may be long-term ventilator dependent and have a poor prognosis.

Platythorax progresses with lung involvement in pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis.

Patients diagnosed with pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) exhibit unique clinical features, including upper lobe-dominant lung involvement and platythorax (or flattened thoracic cage). Although platythorax have been shown to be a sign of disease progression, the temporal relationship between the progression of platythorax and the extent of lung involvement has not been closely investigated. We retrospectively investigated patients diagnosed with PPFE, who did not exhibit fibrotic lesions other than PPFE in the lower lobes. We estimated the fibrosis score, which is a visual score indicating the percentage of lung parenchyma occupied by the disease on computed tomography images selected every 2cm from the lung apex to the lung base, and the flat chest index (the ratio of the anteroposterior diameter of the thoracic cage to the transverse diameter of the thoracic cage). Additionally, we investigated serial changes in the flat chest index and fibrosis score. A total of 29 patients were included in this study. The fibrosis score was found to be weakly and inversely correlated with forced vital capacity %predicted at the diagnosis (r=-0.40, p=0.038). Furthermore, the annual changes in the flat chest index and fibrosis score was found to be moderately and inversely correlated (r=-0.663, p=0.0037). These results indicate that there is a causal relationship between the progression of fibroelastosis and that of platythorax in patients with PPFE.

Lung Transplantation for Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE), a new disease entity associated with interstitial pneumonia, is characterized by fibrosis and elastosis involving the pleura and subpleural lung parenchyma, predominantly in the upper lobe. As the awareness of this disease entity has increased, many studies have revealed the prevalence and incidence, clinical and pathological characteristics, and disease course of PPFE. Patients with PPFE reportedly have several unique clinical characteristics—including an extremely low body mass index with a slender body and chest wall deformity, known as “flat chest”. As this disease progresses, shrinking of the lungs often causes life-threatening complications, such as pneumothorax, and associated air leak syndrome. Lung transplantation is considered the only effective treatment for patients with advanced PPFE; however, little is known about the influences of the characteristics of PPFE on the outcome of lung transplantation. This review focuses on the unique clinicopathologic characteristics of PPFE and associated outcomes of lung transplantation for these patients.

Physiological Criteria Are Useful for the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis.

Background: Diagnostic criteria of idiopathic pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE) were recently proposed, including physiological criteria of the body mass index (BMI) and percentage of the predicted values of residual volume (RV)/total lung capacity (TLC) (RV/TLC %pred.). The aim of this study was to evaluate (i) whether the physiologic criteria are useful for the diagnosis and (ii) whether the flat chest index, defined as the ratio of the anteroposterior diameter to the transverse diameter of the thoracic cage, could be an alternative parameter to RV/TLC %pred. Methods: We selected consecutive IPPFE patients and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. We examined the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the physiological criteria and flat chest index for differentiating IPPFE patients from IPF patients. Results: This study included 37 IPPFE patients and 89 IPF patients. The physiological criteria distinguished IPPFE patients from IPF patients with a sensitivity of 78.6% and specificity of 88.0%. The combination of the flat chest index and BMI was also effective for differentiation (sensitivity of 82.1% and specificity of 89.3%). Conclusion: We verified the good performance of the physiologic criteria in a different cohort. When the RV/TLC is not measured, using the flat chest index instead of RV/TLC %pred. may be reasonable.

Extrapulmonary Problems Limit the Outcome of Lung Transplantation in Idiopathic Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis: A Multi-Center Study in Japan

Idiopathic pleurparenchymal fibroelastosis (IPPFE) is a relatively new disease entity of interstitial pneumonia characterized by upper lobe dominant fibrosis and flat chest. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome of lung transplantation for IPPFE in comparison with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We retrospectively reviewed patients with IPPFE and those with IPF aged 20 or over who underwent lung transplantation between 1998 and 2018. Data were collected from all nine lung transplant centers in Japan, under the support of Japanese Society of Lung and Heart-Lung Transplantation. One hundred patients were eligible, including 31 IPPFE and 69 IPF patients. Patients with IPPFE were more likely to be women (58% vs 28%; P < 0.01) and to have a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (17.6±3.6 vs 22.6±4.2 kg/m2; P < 0.01) than those in the IPF group. Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed no significant difference in overall survival between groups (P = 0.66; Figure 1A). The stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) was significantly longer in the IPPFE group (22.8±19.15 vs 13.2±11.2 days; P < 0.01). In the IPPFE group, BMI did not improve even 1 year after transplant (pre-; 16.5±3.2 kg/m2 vs 2 years later; 15.6±2.5 kg/m2; P = 0.08). By two years after transplantation, percent predicted forced vital capacity in IPPFE group significantly improved (pre-; 36.9±17.2 vs 2 years later; 52.0±20.0 %; P = 0.03; Figure 1B). However, compared with the IPF group, the value was still significantly lower (52.0±20.0 vs 70.8±18.7 %; P < 0.01). The survival of patients with IPPFE after lung transplantation was comparable with those with IPF. However, patients with IPPFE showed longer ICU stay, limited improvement in pulmonary function, and no improvement in low BMI, suggesting systemic or extrapulmonary problems such as stiff chest wall in patients with IPPFE.

Prosthetic Soul Mates: Sex Robots as Media for Companionship

Prosthetic Soul Mates: Sex Robots as Media for Companionship

Flat chest projection in the detection and visualization of rib fractures: A cross-sectional study comparing curved and multiplanar reformation of computed tomography images in different reader groups

BackgroundRib fractures are common and potentially life-threatening. Fast and correct detection as well as comprehensive visual overview of rib fractures are of clinical and forensic importance. This study compared two computed tomography (CT) reformation methods, curved planar reformation (CPR) with conventional multiplanar reformation (MPR), regarding detection of rib fractures in different readers. MethodsTwelve postmortem CT datasets were retrospectively assessed for rib fractures using CPR and MPR. After defining the gold-standard regarding side, level, localization, and quantity of fractures, four reader groups per two readers consisting of radiologists, trauma surgeons, forensic pathologists, and laypersons, were evaluated for sensitivity, proportion of false positives, time to fracture detection, and subjective preference. ResultsOverall sensitivity for fracture detection did not vary significantly between both methods. However, it was significantly higher in trauma surgeons and laypersons when reading CPR compared to MPR (70.7% vs. 62.0%, p=0.038 and 33.7% vs. 22.1%, p=0.003 respectively). It was significantly lower in radiologists (63.8% vs. 76.8%, p=0.001). Forensic pathologists performed similarly with both methods (53.6% vs. 56.5%, p=0.549). All non-radiologists preferred the use of CPR (75%). All readers found CPR to provide better visual overview (100%). ConclusionCPR may increase rib fracture detection rates of non-radiologists (i.e. trauma surgeons and laypersons) and provides a better visual overview. However, radiologists achieve higher fracture detection rates when allowed to work with the software tools they are more experienced with. The overall sensitivity was improvable and better visualization methods are warranted in order to avoid misdiagnosis and medicolegal errors regarding rib fracture detection.

Long-term complications and reconstruction failures in previously radiated breast cancer patients receiving salvage mastectomy with autologous reconstruction or tissue expander/implant-based reconstruction.

Salvage mastectomy (SM) is the standard of care for patients with local recurrence (LR) after breast conservation therapy (BCT), often with immediate reconstruction. Complications of reconstruction are a concern for these patients, and long-term data are limited. We sought to compare rates of complications requiring re-operation (CRR) and reconstruction failure (RF) between autologous reconstruction (AR) and tissue expander/implant reconstruction (TE/I). Patients with locally recurrent breast cancer after BCT, treated with SM and immediate AR or TE/I between 2000 and 2008, were identified. CRR was defined as unplanned return to operating room for wound infection, dehiscence, necrosis (including flap, skin, or fat), hematoma, or hernia (for AR) and extrusion, leak, or capsular contracture (for TE/I). RF was defined as conversion to another reconstruction technique or to flat chest wall. This study included 103 patients with 107 reconstructions. Median follow-up was 6.6years. CRR and RF were significantly higher with TE/I (n=34) compared to AR (n=73) at 5years (50.9% vs 25.5%; P=0.02) and (42.1% vs 5.8%; P<0.001). On univariate analysis (UVA), TE/I (HR=2.14; P=0.02) and diabetes (HR=5.10; P=0.007) were significant predictors for CRR. On UVA, TE/I (HR=7.30; P<0.001) and older age at reconstruction (HR=1.03; P=0.003) were significant predictors for RF. In this population of previously irradiated patients, TE/I was associated with significantly higher CRR and RF. Complications continue to occur up to 10years after TE/I. AR should be considered in appropriately selected patients, though TE/I may remain a reasonable option in patients without high-risk factors for surgical complications.

Long-Term Outcomes After Autologous or Tissue Expander/Implant–Based Breast Reconstruction and Postmastectomy Radiation for Breast Cancer

PurposeThe toxicity profile of breast reconstruction with postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) varies by technique and timing, and long-term data are limited. We compared rates of complications requiring reoperation (CRR) and reconstruction failure (RF) between immediate autologous reconstruction (I-AR), immediate tissue expander/implant reconstruction (I-TE/I), delayed autologous reconstruction (D-AR), and delayed tissue expander/implant reconstruction (D-TE/I) in patients receiving PMRT. Methods and MaterialsPatients who received autologous reconstruction (AR) or tissue expander/implant reconstruction (TE/I) and PMRT between 2000 to 2008 were included. Reconstruction was immediate if performed on the same day as mastectomy followed by PMRT (I-AR or I-TE/I) or delayed if after PMRT (D-AR and D-TE/I). CRR was defined as an unplanned return to the operating room for infection, dehiscence, necrosis, hematoma, or hernia (with AR) and extrusion, leak, or contracture (with TE/I). RF was defined as unplanned conversion to another reconstruction technique or to flat chest wall. Cumulative incidence of CRR and RF was calculated using Kaplan–Meier and compared using the log-rank test. Logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with CRR and RF. ResultsTwo hundred four patients were included. Median follow-up was 8 years. There were 127 AR cases (63%) and 77 TE/I cases (38%). At 5 years, CRR was 18%, 38%, 34%, and 70% (P = .010) and RF was 4%, 22%, 7%, and 56% (P < .0001) for I-AR, I-TE/I, D-AR, and D-TE/I, respectively. On multivariate analysis, TE/I (hazard ratio [HR] 2.0; P = .011), body mass index ≥30 (HR 3.9; P = .002), and smoking (HR 2.7; P = .001) were significant predictors for CRR, and TE/I (HR 6.6; P < .0001), diabetes (HR 4.1; P = .044), and hypertension (HR 3.5; P = .005) were significant for RF. When excluding RF because of infection, the rate of RF was not significantly different among the 4 groups (P = .23). ConclusionsWith PMRT, TE/I reconstruction in the immediate and delayed setting is associated with higher CRR and RF compared with AR. Patient factors should guide selection of technique. Efforts to reduce rates of RF with TE/I should focus on minimizing risks for infection.

Impact of flat chest on cadaveric lung transplantation: postoperative pulmonary function and survival.

Thoracic cage flatness, the so-called flat chest, is a chest wall deformity associated with end-stage lung disease requiring lung transplantation. There is little information on the impact of flat chest on lung transplantation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether flat chest directly influences respiratory function and survival after cadaveric lung transplantation. Data from 68 patients who underwent cadaveric lung transplantation between August 2010 and September 2017, excluding patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lymphangioleiomyomatosis, were retrospectively collected and divided into 2 groups: a flat chest group (n = 30) and a non-flat chest group (n = 38). Flat chest was diagnosed when the ratio of the thoracic anteroposterior diameter to the transverse diameter was 1/3 or less. Preoperative characteristics, postoperative pulmonary function, exercise capacity and survival were compared between the 2 groups. Preoperative forced vital capacity (FVC) and %FVC were significantly lower in the flat chest group. A downsizing of lobar transplantation to overcome size disparity was more frequent in the flat chest group (P = 0.04). However, there were no significant differences in the ratio of postoperative FVC to the preoperatively estimated FVC and postoperative 6-min walk distances between the 2 groups. The 5-year overall survival rate of patients in the flat chest group and the non-flat chest group was 64.3% and 66.5%, respectively (P = 0.87). Although tailoring of the donor lung was occasionally needed for flat chest patients, postoperative function and survival of flat chest patients were satisfactory compared with those of non-flat chest patients after cadaveric lung transplantation.

A preliminary study on the relationship between idiopathic arrhythmia and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging defined cardiac features in patients with straight back syndrome

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the potential correlation between cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and clinical features and idiopathic arrhythmia in patients with straight back syndrome (SBS). Methods: Patients receiving CMR imaging examination from April 2015 to March 2016 at our department (n=1 432) were screened, 76 patients met the diagnosis criteria of flat chest (anteroposterior diameter/transthoracic diameter (APD/TTD) ratio<0.37 at the T8 vertebra). After excluding 33 patients with structural heart disease, 43 SBS patients were divided into two groups: SBS without obvious morphological change in the heart (group A, n=19) and SBS with morphological change of the heart (group B, n=24). CMR images were analyzed, focusing the heart morphological changes induced by SBS. The clinical data were collected to comprehensively analyze the medical history, electrocardiogram and electrophysiological examination in order to observe the relationship between SBS induced heart morphological change and the arrhythmia type and origin. Results: There were 21 male patients in this cohort, mean age was (28.5±11.5) years (13-58 years). APD/TTD ratio was similar between the two groups (0.30±0.03 vs. 0.29±0.04, P>0.05). LVEF tended to be lower in group B than in group A ((47.48±12.77)%vs. (59.31±9.04)%, P>0.05) . In group B, there were 15 patients with left ventricular enlargement, 2 with left ventricular wall thickening, 5 with uncoordinated ventricular wall motion, 5 with tricuspid regurgitation, 3 with mitral regurgitation, 2 with myocardial fibrosis, 5 with increased trabecular and 16 with decreased left ventricular function. Direct compression sign of right ventricle (disappeared precordial fat tissue space, secondary right atria enlargement and tricuspid regurgitation) and left atria (with or without secondary left ventricular enlargement and mitral regurgitation) were evidenced in patients of group B. CMR revealed that the arrhythmia origin corresponded the compression site of the heart in 8 cases (42.1%) in group A and 13 cases (54.2%) in group B, not corresponded to the compression site in 6 patients (31.6%) in group A and in 7 patients (29.2%) in group B, not attributable in 5 patients (26.3%) in group A and 4 patients (16.7%) in group B. The percent of arrhythmia origin corresponded the compression site of the heart tended to be higher in group B as compared to group A (P>0.05). Conclusion: SBS can induce changes of cardiac morphology and cardiac function. SBS induced cardiac compression is linked with the development of arrhythmias and might be one of the reasons of arrhythmias in these patients.

Pulmonary Function and Exercise Capacity in Patients With Flat Chests After Lung Transplantation

Severe chest wall deformation is generally a contraindication for lung transplantation; however, it is not known whether patients with flat chests have reduced postoperative exercise capacity and pulmonary function. This study's purpose was to investigate the relationship between preoperative thoracic shape and postoperative exercise capacity and pulmonary function in patients undergoing lung transplantation. Twenty recipients who underwent successful bilateral living-donor lobar lung transplantation were evaluated. To analyze postoperative graft function in relation to preoperative thoracic shape, 40 donor grafts implanted into 20 recipients were divided into two groups: flat chest group and normal chest group. Flat chest is diagnosed when the thoracic anteroposterior diameter to transverse diameter ratio is 1:3 or less. The ratio of the postoperative forced vital capacity to the preoperatively estimated forced vital capacity was significantly lower in the flat chest group than in the normal chest group 1 year after lung transplantation (p= 0.002). However, there were no significant differences in postoperative 6-minute walk distances between the two groups. Furthermore, the thoracic anteroposterior diameter to transverse diameter ratio in the flat chest group significantly increased after lung transplantation (p= 0.02). Although postoperative pulmonary function was significantly poorer for patients with flat chests than for patients with normal chests, their postoperative exercise capacity was equivalent. We also found that flat chest severity significantly improved after lung transplantation. Our study, the first investigating postoperative functional status in patients with flat chests, clearly shows that it is possible to perform lung transplantation in such patients with acceptable outcomes.