Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2005;27:175
© 2005 Elsevier Science NL
The case for a ‘sandwich’ course in plastic surgery
Gaetano Rocco*
The Price-Thomas Thoracic Unit, Directorate of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Herries Road S5 7AU, Sheffield, UK
Received 16 August 2004;
accepted 21 September 2004.
* Tel.: +44 114 236 3399; fax: +44 114 2610 350. (E-mail: gaetano.rocco{at}btopenworld.com).
Key Words: Muscle flap • Chest wall • Diaphragm
I read with interest the manuscript by Rathinam et al. illustrating a very well devised technique of reconstructing a challenging defect in the chest wall with a Marlex methacrylate sandwich [1]. Although the paper contains some controversial statements (i.e. the limitations of Goretex patches), I believe one of its major highlights resides in emphasizing how the thoracic surgeon should be familiar with the techniques of chest wall reconstruction and the use of muscle flaps for intrathoracic usage both for benign and malignant processes [2,3]. A basic competence in this field, often perceived as a ‘nowhere land’ between thoracic and plastic surgery, should be required from future thoracic surgeons and included in the European thoracic surgical training curricula, possibly relying on the collaboration of the local plastic surgery training programmes.
References
- Rathinam S, Venkateswaran R, Rajesh PB, Collins FJ. Reconstruction of the chest wall and the diaphragm using the inverted Y Marlex methylmethacrylate sandwich flap. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2004;26:197-201.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Widmer MK, Krueger T, Lardinois D, Banic A, Ris HB. A comparative evaluation of intrathoracic latissimus dorsi and serratus anterior muscle transposition. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2000;18:435-439.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Rocco G. Pleural partition with intrathoracic muscle transposition (muscle tent) to manage residual spaces after subtotal pulmonary resections. (in press) Ann Thorac Surg 2004;78:74-76.[CrossRef]
