[Satisfaction levels and radiological improvement in patients with chest deformity after reconstructive surgery]

Many methods for surgical correction of anterior chest deformities has been described; the modified Ravitch's technique is the most performed. We reviewed the clinical reports of 15 patients who had corrected chest deformity from 1991 to 1999. We compared the photographies, CT images and Haller's pre and postsurgery indexes. The modified Ravitch's technique was performed in 14 cases and the Nuss's technique in one. A postoperative questionnaire was done to know the grade of satisfaction that the patients reported after surgery. Of 15 patients, 14 were male. The mean age at the moment of surgery was 11 year old (range: 4-17). Nine patients (60%) had pectus excavatum and six (40%) pectus carinatum. In all cases, the postsurgery photographies and CT images showed neither chest depression nor protrussion. The mean of Haller's pre and postsurgery indexes changed from 4.75 (range: 2.8-7.7) to 3.12 (range: 2.4-3.7). The grade of satisfaction after surgery was high in the 80% of the patients. In our limited experience, the most of the patients with anterior chest deformities are satisfied with the results of the surgical management.