Thoracotomies: epidemiologic study in a large general hospital of the region Center-Western of Paraná – Brazil

Objectives: to describe the most frequent causes for realization of thoracotomies and the epidemiological profile of individuals submitted of its. Method: this is about a retrospective study from quantitative approach conducted by medical records of a large general hospital of region Center-Western of Paraná (PR) were analysed in from June 2005 to july 2006. The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste in Paraná (BR), in accordance to registration number 019/2006. Results: it were studied 50 cases, 56% were men; the age-group where the most number of cases were concentred was between 40 and 49 years old (22%), the average age was 42,5 years. Most of the case studied (50%) was closed thoracotomy drainage; 42% was thoracotomized for exhibit pleural empyema and 22% for exhibit pleural effusion. Conclusion: males aged up to 49 years old predominated among the thoracotomized patients in the study sample. The lateral thoracotomies were the main thoracic incisions made for treatment of pleural effusions and empyemas. Descriptors: thoracotomy; thoracic surgery; epidemiology descriptive.RESUMOObjetivo: descrever as causas mais frequentes para a realização de toracotomias e traçar o perfil epidemiológico dos indivíduos submetidos a este procedimento. Método: estudo retrospectivo com abordagem quantitativa através de análise de prontuários médicos em um hospital de grande porte da região Centro-Oeste do Paraná no período entre junho/2005 e junho/2006. O trabalho foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste, sob registro n.019/2006. Resultados: foram estudados 50 casos, destes, 56% constituem-se de homens; a faixa etária onde se concentraram o maior número de casos foi entre 40 e 49 anos (22%), com idade média de 42,5 anos. A maioria dos casos analisados (50%) correspondeu a toracotomias com drenagem fechada; 42% foram toracotomizados por apresentarem empiema pleural e 22% por apresentarem derrame pleural. ...