State Emergency Room is a pioneer in thoracic surgeries in urgent and emergency care
The procedure is indicated for patients with severe inflammatory or infectious processes, such as pneumonia
Strategically structured to be one of the reference points for public health in Pará, the Dr. Roberto Macedo Emergency Room (PSRM), in Belém, provides surgeries to the population, among which pulmonary decortication stands out, a thoracic procedure that has been saving the lives of patients undergoing surgery at the hospital unit. The service is a pioneer in urgent and emergency care in Pará.
According to the doctors, decortication aims to remove the bulky and adherent layer of fibrous tissue - the decortication - a process that prevents the lung from fully expanding in its space. Generally, this obstruction is caused by the accumulation of pus or other inflammatory processes that can compress the lung and hinder human breathing.
Pulmonary decortication seeks to restore the correct function of the lung to improve breathing. The procedure is indicated for patients with severe inflammatory or infectious processes, such as pneumonia.
“If pneumonia is not treated properly from the beginning of the diagnosis, for example, over time, the lung becomes completely closed, and a coating forms over it due to the infectious and inflammatory process, which, even after removing the fluid, cannot allow the lung to expand on its own. Therefore, it is necessary to remove this layer; when it is removed, the lung normalizes,” explains thoracic surgeon Luiz Arraes.
The doctor continues to point out the importance of the procedure. “Every human being has fluid in the pleura - the serous membrane that lines the lungs - as it serves to lubricate our breathing. When the lung bacteria pass through this fluid, it becomes secretion - pus. Thus, it increases and competes for space in the pleura with the lung. Then, the fluid pushes the lung, leaving it closed,” adds the doctor.
With the support of video thoracoscopy, pulmonary decortication becomes less invasive and accelerates patient recovery with a shorter hospitalization time.
“From the moment this entry point was created at PSRM, this procedure began to be performed for patients who need treatment. We receive referred patients from the health network and those who come to the emergency and urgent care. Pulmonary decortication is the most advanced and complex procedure performed by the thoracic surgeon. The initiative ensures quality of life with medical discharge and restored health,” points out Carlos Ribeiro, the general director of the hospital unit.
Among those benefiting from the service, little Pietro Cauã, 2 months old, had his health restored with the surgery. “I thank God and the professionals at the Emergency Room. My son arrived at the hospital in serious condition and, today, he is well after the surgery. A high-standard hospital that welcomed us and saved Pietro's life through this surgery,” celebrates with teary eyes, his father, Cuã Felipe, 18 years old.
Father and baby traveled from Santa Maria do Pará, a municipality about 115 kilometers from Belém, so that Pietro could undergo the procedure and gain quality of life.
Service: The Dr. Roberto Macedo Emergency Room is located on Avenida Augusto Montenegro, in Belém. The unit is managed by the Acqua Institute, in partnership with the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), and operates on a 24-hour shift. The state emergency room is a reference for urgent and emergency care, with specialties such as general surgery, pediatric surgery, vascular surgery, thoracic surgery, bucomaxillofacial surgery, and neurosurgery.
Text: Pallmer Barros (Ascom PSRM)
