Biomedical Research

Aim: This study is to investigate the effects of mechanical ventilation in the treatment of pleural effusion caused by multiple rib fractures.

Methods: A total of 44 patients with pleural effusion caused by multiple rib fractures admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to 2015 January were randomly divided into two groups, Com group (routine medical treatment group) and Mon group (mechanical ventilation group), with 22 cases in each group. Patients in Com group were given conventional medical treatment and those in Mon group were given conventional medical therapy combined with mechanical ventilation. Chest computed tomography (CT) and chest three-dimensional reconstruction (VRT) were performed at admission, the second day, the fourth day and the sixth day after admission. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase was detected by colorimetric method.

Results: Over time, the general clinical manifestations such as expiratory dyspnea of Mon group were less severe than those of Com group. Chest X-ray findings showed that over time, the lung texture of Mon group was clearer than that of Com group. Chest CT manifestations showed that over time, the amount of pleural effusion in Mon group was significantly lower than that of Com group (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the treatment of pleural effusion caused by multiple rib fractures with conventional medical therapy combined with mechanical ventilation can promote fracture healing.

Author(s): Hui Zhang, Tingting Sun, Mingchen Feng
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