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PubMed1994

Repair of pectus excavatum using a Dacron vascular graft strut.

Long-term follow-up was obtained for 161 patients who underwent a modified Ravitch repair of pectus excavatum. In all cases, the substernal strut was fashioned from a Dacron vascular graft. Follow-up was done by telephone (most cases) and also by office visit (43 cases). The follow-up period was 12 months to 21.5 years. One hundred thirty-three patients (83%) had satisfactory chest contour; 17 had a fair result, and 11 had frank recurrence. Risk factors for poor contour were an asymmetrical defect, a severe defect, and associated congenital anomalies. Of the three patients with Marfan's syndrome, all had recurrence. One hundred thirty (81%) had a satisfactory scar, and 31 had hypertrophic scars. Risk factors for hypertrophic scar formation were increasing age and weight, and tripod internal fixation used early in the series. Factors not contributing to clinical outcome include the sex of the patient, positive family history, perioperative complications, year of surgery, surgeon, and type of incision. The use of a Dacron strut is relatively easy and complication-free. It can be left permanently in situ. Long-term results have been good, except in patients with an extensive or asymmetrical deformity, and in those with other congenital anomalies, especially Marfan's syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Minimally invasive video thoracoscopic correction of pectus excavatum].

Pectus excavatum, the most common congenital deformity of the chest wall, has esthetic, psychological and social repercussions as well as a slight impact on pulmonary function. Treatment is surgical and is carried out for esthetic purposes in most cases. The most commonly applied surgical technique is based on the one originally described by Ravitch: sub-perichondrial, bilateral chondrectomy and sternal osteotomy. In 1997, however. Nuss described a minimally invasive approach to correction by means of a support bar. Our objective was to perform minimally invasive correction of pectus excavatum using a substernal extrapleural approach guided by video-assisted thoracoscopy. We treated three patients over 15 years of age without surgical complications. In all three cases, the minimally invasive technique corrected the pectus excavatum with excellent esthetic results. Both the path of insertion and duration were shorter with the described approach than with traditional surgery. Video images facilitated extrapleural insertion of the bar and minimized complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Current management of pectus excavatum.

Pectus excavatum (PE) is one of the most common anomalies of childhood. It occurs in approximately 1 in every 400 births, with males afflicted 5 times more often than females. PE is usually recognized in infancy, becomes much more severe during adolescent growth years, and remains constant throughout adult life. Symptoms are infrequent during early childhood, but become increasingly severe during adolescent years with easy fatigability, dyspnea with mild exertion, decreased endurance, pain in the anterior chest, and tachycardia. The heart is deviated into the left chest to varying degrees causing reduction in stroke volume and cardiac output. Pulmonary expansion is confined, causing a restrictive defect. Repair is recommended for patients who are symptomatic and who have a markedly elevated pectus severity index as determined by chest X-ray or computed tomography scan. Repair using the highly modified Ravitch technique is usually performed after the age of 8 years. The optimal age for repair is between 12 and 16 years. Repair can be performed on adults with similar good results. Recent modifications in the Ravitch technique remove minimal cartilage and routinely use a temporary internal support bar for 6 months. Operation rarely takes more than 3 hours, and hospitalization rarely exceeds 3 days. Pain is mild and complications are rare, with 97% of patients experiencing a good to excellent result. The new minimally invasive Nuss repair avoids cartilage resection and takes less operating time, but is associated with more severe pain, longer hospitalization and a higher complication rate, with the bar remaining for 2 or more years. This technique is less applicable to older patients and those with asymmetric deformities. Long-term follow-up will be necessary to determine which operation may be best for any specific patient.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Pulmonary function before surgery for pectus excavatum and at long-term follow-up.

Pulmonary function tests were performed before surgery on 152 patients who were operated on for pectus excavatum between 1970 and 1987 and at long-term follow-up to assess the degree of impairment and to investigate any changes caused by surgical correction. The mean age at surgery was 15.3 +/- 5.5 years. Pulmonary function was found to be restricted preoperatively. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative pulmonary function was not related to age, the severity of the deformity at physical examination, or to pulmonary complaints. Only the patients with obstructive disease showed significantly more pulmonary complaints (p = 0.042). The total lung capacity (TLC) and inspiratory vital capacity (IVC) were significantly related to the age-corrected (delta) anteroposterior diameter of the chest (lower vertebral index [LVI]) (p = 0.0001). At follow-up (mean, 8.1 +/- 3.6 years), the restriction of pulmonary function was increased despite improvement in the symptoms of most patients and despite a significant increase in the anteroposterior diameter of the chest (p = 0.0001): the TLC was decreased from 83.7 percent predicted (pred) preoperatively to 73.8 percent pred (p = 0.0001) and the IVC from 78.3 percent pred to 70.7 percent pred (p = 0.0001). The surgical results were satisfactory in 83.6 percent. No relation was found between the changes in pulmonary function measured at follow-up and the surgical results. Only the age at surgery and the changes in the TLC and IVC at follow-up were significantly related (p = 0.0036, 0.0043, respectively), although the correlation coefficients were low (r = 27 percent and 28 percent, respectively). The reduction in lung function at follow-up was most pronounced in the patients who had the least functional impairment (TLC > 75 percent pred) preoperatively. No correlation was found between the changes in the pulmonary function test results at follow-up and follow-up interval, preoperative delta LVI, and the change in delta LVI at follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[A rare case of mediastinal neuroblastoma with pectus excavatum in a 4-month-old boy--a surgical report].

Screening of neuroblastoma is commonly performed on 6-month-old infants; therefore, its discovery in children younger than that age is extremely rare. However, a 4-month-old boy with pectus excavatum was found to also have mediastinal neuroblastoma after close examination. This 7 kg child had no apparent symptoms, yet revealed an egg-sized shadow along the right atrium in the chest X-ray film, and along the right side of the vertebrae on CT. Due to the increase in the size of the tumor after two months of observation, we suspected malignant neurogenic tumor and performed a thoracotomy. With a right posterolateral thoracotomy we removed the dark-brown, elastic tumor measuring 6 x 4 x 3 cm and located along the right side of the vertebrae from III through VIII ribs. The origin was the thoracic sympathicus and the pathological diagnosis of the tumor was neuroblastoma with rosset formation. After conducting a post-operative chemotherapy (Jame's protocol), no evidence of recurrence was observed at 33 months after surgical treatment. We summarized the previously reported seven surgically treated cases of Stage I mediastinal neuroblastoma at less than 12 months of age. Among the 2500 pectus excavatum surgeries that have been held at our department, non has been found to have mediastinal neuroblastoma.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed1987

Surgical correction of pectus carinatum.

Pectus carinatum is an infrequent but eminently correctable chest wall deformity. It is encountered much less frequently than pectus excavatum. In 12 years, from 1973 to 1985, 152 pectus carinatum (16.7%) and 758 pectus excavatum deformities (83.3%) were corrected. It occurs more frequently in boys (119 patients) than girls (33 patients). The majority, 89 cases, were symmetric, while 49 were asymmetric, and 14 were mixed deformities (ipsilateral carinatum, contralateral excavatum). In almost half the patients the deformity was not identified until after the 11th birthday. A family history of chest wall deformities was present in 26%, and of scoliosis in 12%. Associated musculoskeletal abnormalities were identified in 34 patients (scoliosis 23, Poland's syndrome 4, neurofibromatosis 2, Morquio's disease 2, vertebral anomalies 1, hyperlordosis 1, and kyphosis 1). Surgical correction required bilateral resection of the third through seventh costal cartilages in 143 patients, and unilateral resection in nine patients with an isolated abnormality. A single osteotomy was used in 88 patients and a double osteotomy in 53 patients. In 11 cases no osteotomy was required. Mixed deformity with posterior angulation of the sternum was managed by osteotomy and anterior displacement. The remaining cases had sternal osteotomy and fracture of the posterior cortex to correct anterior angulation. The operation was completed with a low complication rate 3.9% (pneumothorax 4, wound infection 1, atelectasis 1, and local tissue necrosis 1). Three patients required revision with additional unilateral lower cartilage resection for persistent malformation of the costal arch. All patients ultimately had a satisfactory result.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

A case report of anesthetic management of the minimally invasive Nuss operation for pectus excavatum.

We describe the anesthetic management of a patient with pectus excavatum, receiving the minimally invasive Nuss operation, which corrects chest wall deformity by insertion of a convex steel bar (pectus bar). An 8-year-old female patient was scheduled for the Nuss operation. The manipulation of the bar in the thorax was guided by thoracic endoscopy. Anesthesia was maintained with a combination of general and epidural anesthesia. The intraarterial catheter and epidural catheter were inserted after the induction of general anesthesia. During the manipulation of the pectus bar in the anterior mediastinum, a sudden decrease in arterial pressure might occur due to the compression of the heart. Therefore, the intraarterial line was essential for continuous monitoring of arterial pressure. The pectus bar causes severe postoperative pain, and the patient was required to remain at bed rest for several days. Continuous epidural infusion of ropivacaine and morphine eliminated the postoperative pain and enabled the patient to maintain bed rest. For the anesthetic managements of patients undergoing the Nuss operation, close monitoring of arterial pressure intraoperatively and postoperative analgesia are important.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1988

Surgical repair of pectus excavatum.

From 1958 to March 1987 we corrected 704 patients with pectus excavatum. The condition occurred more frequently in boys (544 patients) than girls (160 patients). In the majority of patients (86%), the defect was evident at birth or within the first year of life. Musculoskeletal abnormalities were identified in 133 patients (scoliosis, 107; kyphosis, 4; myopathy, 3; Poland's syndrome, 3; Marfan's syndrome, 2; Pierre Robin syndrome, 2; prune belly syndrome, 2; neurofibromatosis, 3; cerebral palsy, 4; tuberous sclerosis, 1; and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 2). Sixteen patients had associated congenital heart disease. A family history of chest wall deformity was present in 37% of the cases and a history of scoliosis in 11%. Surgical correction was performed using a uniform technique for bilateral subperichondrial resection of the deformed costal cartilages and sternal osteotomy resecting a wedge of the anterior cortex and fracturing the posterior cortex. Anterior displacement was maintained with silk sutures closing the osteotomy defect. In 28 early cases, the sternum was secured by intramedullary fixation with a Steinman pin. All repairs were completed with a low complication rate (4.4%; pneumothorax, 11; wound infection, 5; wound hematoma, 3; wound dehiscence, 5; pneumonia, 3; seroma, 1; hemoptysis, 1; hemopericardium, 1). Six complications were associated with Steinman pin fixation (hemoptysis, seroma, hemopericardium, pneumothorax, 3). Major recurrence occurred in 17 patients (2.7%) and led to revision in 12. Satisfactory long-term results were achieved in the remaining 687 patients, with follow-up ranging from 2 weeks to 27 years. Mean follow-up was 4.3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Review and discussion of the complications of minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair.

PURPOSE: To review and discuss the complications of minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair. METHODS: 329 patients underwent minimally invasive pectus repair between January 1987 and August 2000, including 14 patients who recurred after previous Ravitch repairs, 10 failed Nuss repairs (eight done elsewhere) and two failed Leonard repairs. All patients received antibiotics and vigorous incentive spirometry to prevent atelectasis, pneumonia and bar infection. Epidural anesthesia was used for postoperative analgesia to keep patients comfortable and stable postoperatively and to prevent bar displacement. Thoracoscopy was used during bar insertion to minimize the risk of mediastinal injury and to select the best position for the bar. A new introducer was developed to elevate the sternum before bar insertion. A stabilizing bar was created to minimize bar displacement. The duration of sternal bracing has been increased from two years to three or four years in selected patients. COMPLICATIONS: There were no deaths, no cardiac perforations and no cases of thoracic chondrodystrophy. Pneumothorax with spontaneous resolution occurred in 52 % of the patients, with 1.2 % requiring simple aspiration and 1.5 % requiring chest tube drainage. This complication has essentially been eliminated by using a "water seal system". Pericarditis occurred in 2.4 % with good response to Indomethacin in six out of eight patients and two patients also required pericardial fluid aspiration. Pneumonia occurred in 0.9 %. Wound infection occurred in 2.6 % resulting in bar infection in three out of the seven patients. Long-term antibiotics were successful in curing the infection in one patient, whereas the other two required bar removal at 12 and 18 months, respectively. Bar displacement occurred in 8.8 % of patients. However, the introduction of stabilizers decreased the incidence from 15.7 % before the use of stabilizers to 5.4 % with stabilizers. Wiring the bar and stabilizer together has decreased the incidence even further. RESULTS: Long-term outcome after bar removal showed an excellent result in 71 %, good result in 21 % and recurrence in 7.8 %. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive technique has a low complication rate with excellent long-term results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Demonstrating relief of cardiac compression with the Nuss minimally invasive repair for pectus excavatum.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Anatomic and physiological parameters have not been routinely used in the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of pectus excavatum. Most symptomatic patients have had significant subjective improvement after pectus correction. This study is based upon the use of noninvasive upright echocardiography/electrocardiogram (echo/EKG) with exercise to both identify and provide evidence of correction of cardiac abnormalities resulting from pectus excavatum. METHODS: One hundred twenty-three patients, 99 males and 24 females, ages 5 to 18 years (average, 13 years) underwent Nuss pectus repair. A retrospective review of their medical records was performed. RESULTS: Symptoms related to exertion were present in 106 (86%). The mean Haller chest wall index (CWI) was 4.3 (2.4-10.85). Preoperative echo/EKG with exercise revealed cardiac compression in 117 (95%). A mitral valve abnormality was present in 54 (44%). Six children had no chamber compression but mitral valve prolapse was present in 2 and significant arrhythmias in 4. All patients were asymptomatic after surgery. Postoperative echo/EKG with exercise was performed in 107 (87%). The postoperative echo/EKG was normal in 100 (93% of those studied). Mild persistent mitral valve prolapse existed in 7. There were no postoperative arrhythmias. Twelve (9.8%) patients with low CWI (<3.25) were relieved of chamber compression and had no postoperative arrhythmia. Patent ductus was discovered in 2 patients on their postoperative echos. One closed spontaneously. A child with Marfan syndrome required interventional occlusion. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive echo/EKG with exercise is beneficial in the evaluation of patients with pectus excavatum and provides objective evidence of improvement postoperatively. It is especially valuable as a physiological indicator of cardiac abnormality in patients with a CWI below 3.25. Patients with mitral valve prolapse need long-term follow-up.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2007

Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure for pectus excavatum: I. Development, design, and simulations for feasibility and safety.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Correction of pectus excavatum (PE) results in measurable improvement in lung capacity and cardiac performance as well as improved appearance and self-image. The Nuss and modified Ravitch approaches attempt to correct the chest wall deformity by forcing the sternum forward in 1 step and holding it in place using a metal strut. The initial operation requires extensive manipulation under general anesthesia and results in postoperative pain, requiring hospitalization and regional anesthesia. Pain and disability may last for weeks. Both procedures are expensive. A better principle would be a gradual bit-by-bit repair via small increments of pressure applied over many months. We developed the Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure and applied this strategy to correct PE. METHODS: The Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure uses magnetic force to pull the sternum forward. An internal magnet implanted on the sternum and an external magnet in a nonobtrusive custom-fitted anterior chest wall orthosis produce an adjustable outward force on the sternum. Outward force is maintained until the abnormal costal cartilages are remodeled and the pectus deformity is corrected. RESULTS: We implanted a magnet in human skeletons and measured the force applied to the sternum when the distance between the internal and external magnets was varied in increments. With the 2 magnets 1 cm apart, the outward force was adequate to move the sternum at least 1 cm. We also mapped the magnetic field in the two-magnet configuration and found that maximum field strengths at the surface of the heart and at the outer surface of the orthosis were at safe levels. CONCLUSIONS: The Magnetic Mini-Mover Procedure allows correction of PE by applying magnetic force over a period of months. Crucial questions raised during our design, redesign, and simulation testing have been satisfactorily answered, and we have received a Food and Drug Administration Investigation Device Exemption (G050196/A002) to proceed with a phase I to II clinical trial.

Feasibility Studies↗
PubMed1996

Cardiorespiratory function before and after corrective surgery in pectus excavatum.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pectus excavatum (PE) results in cardiopulmonary abnormalities, and whether surgical repair results in improvement. METHODS: We performed pulmonary function testing and incremental exercise testing in 36 adolescents with PE (aged 16 +/- 3 (SD) years) and 10 age-matched, healthy control subjects. Fifteen PE subjects were reexamined postoperatively, as were six control subjects. RESULTS: Preoperatively, PE subjects had a significantly lower forced vital capacity than control subjects had (81% +/- 14% vs 98% +/- 9% of the predicted value; p < 0.001). Chest computed tomography ratios of internal transverse to antero-posterior diameters correlated inversely with total lung capacity (r = 0.56; p < 0.01). Fifty-eight percent of PE subjects had subjective complaints of exercise limitation. PE subjects exercised at a workload similar to that of control subjects. Maximal heart rate and O2 pulse did not differ between the two groups. Respiratory measurements during exercise were similar between the two groups. Respiratory measurements during exercise were similar between the two groups. Postoperatively there was no change in forced vital capacity (as a percentage of the predicted value). The PE subjects exercised for a slightly longer period and had a slightly higher O2 pulse, whereas control subjects showed no change. CONCLUSION: Some subjects with PE have mild restrictive lung disease, which is not affected by surgical repair. Postoperatively they have a slight increase in exercise tolerance and O2 pulse, which suggests improved cardiac function during exercise. However, the clinical implications of this modest improvement are unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Exercise cardiorespiratory function in adolescents with pectus excavatum. Observations before and after operation.

We studied 12 children with pectus excavatum (mean age, 13.8 years) using pulmonary function and exercise testing. Eight patients had surgical repair and were studied before and after repair. Four patients did not have repair and were tested twice. The degree of chest wall deformity in the two groups was similar. All patients reached 86% or more of their maximal predicted heart rate with exercise. Total lung capacity decreased 8% (p less than 0.01) after operation. In the nonoperated control group, total lung capacity was similar during both studies. The ratio of ventilation at maximal exercise to maximal voluntary ventilation was 68% +/- 12% before and 66% +/- 9% after operation in the operated group and 69% +/- 18% and 79% +/- 30% at two studies in the nonoperated group (nonsignificant changes). Maximal oxygen uptake was 36.1 +/- 4.4 ml/kg/min preoperatively and 38.1 +/- 8.1 postoperatively and 41.2 +/- 7.3 ml/kg/min and 43.0 +/- 6.9 on two studies in the nonoperated group (nonsignificant changes). Cardiac output and stroke volume increased appropriately with exercise both before and after operation. Operation had no physiologically significant effect on the cardiorespiratory response to exercise. Slight changes in cardiorespiratory function occurred in both operated and nonoperated subjects. These results emphasize the importance of studying patients before and after operation and of using a control group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Outcome analysis of minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum: review of 251 cases.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Since the first report in 1997 by Dr Nuss of the technique for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE), the popularity and demand for this operation has increased dramatically. Many pediatric surgeons became familiarized with MIRPE and have applied it to a large number of patients. Outcomes and complications have not yet been defined. METHODS: A comprehensive survey of APSA members was conducted to review technical problems, complications, and outcomes of this new technique. RESULTS: Of the 74 survey responders, 31 (42%) currently use the MIRPE as their procedure of choice, and 251 cases were reviewed. A total of 74.2% of surgeons relied on direct observation and written documentation to obtain training in MIRPE. Less than 60% used the chest index in the preoperative assessment. A total of 98% used the Walter Lorenz bar for the MIRPE. The most common complication was bar displacement or rotation requiring reoperation (9.2%). Pneumothorax requiring tube thoracostomy was reported in 4.8%. Less common problems included infectious complications (2%), pleural effusion (2%), thoracic outlet obstruction (0.8%), cardiac injury (0.4%), sternal erosion (0.4%), pericarditis (0.4%), and anterior thoracic artery pseudoaneurysm (0.4%). Three patients (1.2%) required early strut removal. Reoperation using the open modified Ravitch approach was performed in 2 patients (0.8%). Most surgeons indicated that teenaged patients (>15 years old) were at higher risk for complications. Thoracoscopy in combination with MIRPE was used by 61% of the surgeons. Overall patient satisfaction was rated as excellent or good (96.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The relatively high incidence of problems with MIRPE is probably related to the learning curve associated with the introduction of this new technique. Awareness of technical details, careful patient selection, use of a stabilizing bar, and thoracoscopy likely will result in decreased complications. Long-term results are yet to be determined. The development of a national registry is of great importance for further outcome analysis of MIRPE.

Funnel Chest↗
PubMed2005

Determination of the mechanical requirements for a progressive correction system of pectus excavatum in children.

Pectus excavatum is the most frequent deformity of the thorax. Many surgical procedures have been used for correcting this chest wall deformity. The Nuss procedure is an instant full correction using a rigid stainless steel bar, but some patients experience acute pain. We propose a new progressive correction technique for the chest deformity using an elastic rod. This method requires the specification of mechanical properties correlated with thorax anthropometric characteristics. We determined the force-displacement correlation for anterior-posterior compression of the thorax for 40 normal male and female subjects between 4 and 16 years of age. The measurement data offer the following conclusions: displacements<3.1-4 cm in pectus excavatum can be corrected with the Nuss method because the pain level is not acute. Younger children can tolerate an average displacement of 3.22 cm, while older children can tolerate only a shorter displacement, of 2.62 cm. The average required force in order to obtain a displacement of up to 4 cm varies with age between 10.28 kilgram-force (kgf) at a younger age to 13.61 kgf in older children. At a younger age one can achieve larger displacements with a smaller force, but the force required for the same correction grows linearly with age. Displacements>4 cm must be corrected progressively. The correction of pectus excavatum should be achieved with a progressive correction system (PCS) that must take into account these mechanical parameters.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Thirty-year experience with repair of pectus deformities in adults.

BACKGROUND: A plethora of studies have described repair of pectus deformities in children, but only few reports have described this repair in adults. The purpose of this study was to review our 30-year experience with surgical repair of pectus deformities in adults. METHODS: A retrospective review of all adult patients (> 16 years old) who underwent repair of congenital pectus deformities from 1971 through 2001. RESULTS: There were 77 patients, 64 men and 13 women. Sixty-eight patients underwent surgery for pectus excavatum and 9 for pectus carinatum; median age was 22 years old (range, 16 to 68 years old). Indication for repair was medical concerns in all patients. Preoperative symptoms were dyspnea on exertion in 43 patients, shortness of breath at rest in 22 patients, chest pain in 8 patients, and palpitations in 8 patients. Preoperative electrocardiogram findings included right bundle branch block in 9 patients, sinus bradycardia in 8 patients, left atrial enlargement in 6 patients, and right atrial dilatation in 5 patients. Patterns of the pectus defect were symmetric and localized in 29 patients, symmetric and diffuse in 21, asymmetric and localized in 18, and asymmetric and diffuse in 9 patients. Intraoperative classifications were severe in 38 patients, moderate in 33 patients, and mild in 6 patients. There were no operative deaths. Complications occurred in 11 patients (14.3%). Mean hospital stay was 4 days (range, 2 to 8 days). Mean follow-up was 12 +/- 7 years (range, 4 months old to 24 years old); 1 patient (1.3%) required reoperation for recurrent pectus excavatum. Patient satisfaction and relief of medical symptoms was excellent in 70 patients (90.9%), good in 6 patients, and fair in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Repair of congenital defects of the sternum in adults can be performed safely with low morbidity and no mortality. Long-term results are excellent with requirement for reoperation rare.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Overcorrection during treatment of pectus deformities with DCC orthoses: experience in 17 cases.

Treatment of pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum with dynamic chest compressor (DCC) orthoses have been reported by Haje and others. The goal of this study was to demonstrate that overcorrection during orthotic treatment of children and adolescents with pectus deformities can occur and requires medical attention. Of 3,028 children and adolescents with pectus deformities, observed between 1977 and October 2005, 1,824 were prescribed treatment with DCC orthoses and, after a few months of treatment, some overcorrection was noted in 30 patients. Of the patients who received orthoses, 738 had a minimum follow-up of 1 year and 17 of these, 2 with pectus excavatum and 15 with pectus carinatum, presented overcorrection and were studied. The dynamic remodeling method (DCC orthoses + exercises) was applied. The procedures, adopted according to each patient's needs, were: decreasing the time of orthosis wear and/or the tightening of the screws, introducing a second orthosis, and improving the prescribed exercises and/or encouraging the patient to perform them more intensively. The therapy was successful in all patients, and the result was maintained in one case of pectus excavatum followed up until adulthood. It was concluded that overcorrection during DCC orthosis wear can occur and that careful medical follow-up is necessary if this complication is to be successfully reversed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Operative correction of pectus excavatum: an evolving perspective.

From 1949 to 1975, 220 children have undergone surgical reconstruction of pectus excavatum using a variety of operations on our Pediatric Surgical Service. The first 183 were previously reported and have had subsequent, careful followup evaluation. From 1970 to 1975, an identifiable group of 45 children had a standard operation, a modified Ravitch repair, with the addition of a three-point or tripod internal fixation technique for support of the sternum. These children have all obtained satisfactory reconstruction without prosthetic support of any kind. We have thus avoided the possible danger of foreign material within the chest and have obviated the need for another procedure to remove a supporting stent. The two groups have been analyzed and compared with respect to age distribution, postoperative complications and end results to see if we could detect any trends in the evolving management of children with this condition. The main indications for surgical correction remain cosmetic and postural. Specific trends which have emerged from our experience include an increased percentage of patients between 3 and 8 years of age (average 5.8 years); a decreased need for blood transfusion (10%); a near resolution of postoperative seromas with the use of substernal and subcutaneous suction drains; and in the last 45 children, a 100% excellent or acceptable result to date. We feel that age selection is an important factor in the improved operative result and in the emotional impact on these young patients. Eighty per cent of the children in the recent series were between 3 and 8 years of age at the time of repair. On the basis of this experience, we now feel confident in recommending our standardized operation for pectus excavatum at an elective age of 4 to 6 years.

Adolescent↗