[Pulmonary function test in patients with pectus excavatum before and after Nuss procedure]

Area of Science:

• Cardiothoracic surgery
• Pediatric surgery
• Pulmonary medicine

Context:

• Pectus excavatum is a congenital chest wall deformity impacting thoracic mechanics.
• The Nuss procedure is a minimally invasive surgical technique for pectus excavatum repair.
• Pulmonary function assessment is crucial for evaluating surgical outcomes in these patients.

Purpose:

• To evaluate changes in pulmonary function after the Nuss procedure.
• To compare pre-operative and post-operative pulmonary function.
• To analyze these changes stratified by patient age.

Summary:

• Pulmonary function was assessed in 45 patients before and after the Nuss procedure.
• Vital capacity, residual volume, and total lung capacity decreased post-surgery.
• Maximal voluntary ventilation, peak expiratory flow, and other ventilation indices improved, particularly in younger patients.

Impact:

• The Nuss procedure demonstrates varied short-term effects on pulmonary function.
• Age is a significant factor influencing post-operative pulmonary recovery.
• Findings suggest tailored post-operative management based on age groups may be beneficial.