In our centre 27 (1,7%) out of 1580 patients operated between 1986-1997 underwent rethoracotomy because of postoperative bleeding. 3 were female and 24 male with a mean age of 42 (13-65). in 6 patients left, in 20 right thoracotomy and in one patient median sternotomy had been performed.
The main reason for rethoracotomy was oozing from the chest wall in 10 patients (33%). We detected mortality in 6 patients (22,2%) and one of them was perioperative mortality. Our morbidity rate was 26% (7/27).
The high rate of mortality and morbidity seen after rethoracotomies due to bleeding increases the importance of appropriate surgical technique and experience in thoracic surgical procedures.