[Anesthesia for pectus excavatum]

The incidence of arrhythmia, postoperative complication and pulmonary oxygenation (PaO2) were studied in 48 patients with pectus excavatum scheduled for the Ravitch operation under halothane-nitrous oxide-oxygen (GOF) and enflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen (GOE) anesthesia. Preoperative abnormalities of ECG were observed in 36 of 18 cases. Main abnormalities were incomplete right bundle branch block, left atrium enlargement, and sinus arrhythmia. Ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 4 of 12 cases during GOF anesthesia, whereas no arrhythmia was observed during GOE anesthesia. In postoperative chest X-ray, pulmonary atelectasis (60%), pleural effusion (48%), and pneumothorax (8%) were observed. The results suggest that GOE is more advantageous for pectus excavatum operation than GOF. Postoperative pulmonary surveillance is important for pectus excavatum operation.