[Preliminary results in the correction of the pectus excavatum with the Acastello modified Welch technique]
G R Lorenzo1, J M Gutiérrez Dueñas, E Ardela
1Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Burgos. GULORENZO@terra.es
Background:
Congenital malformations of the chest wall are a heterogeneous group of diseases affecting the costal cartilage, ribs, sternum, scapula and clavicle. The pectus excavatum is characterized by a posterior depression of the sternum. Acastello-Welch technique consists in a partial resection of the costal cartilages adding some bars or plates unilaterally fixed to the sternum in each hemithorax.
Materials And Methods:
From October 2008 to March 2011 we evaluated 108 patients with congenital malformations of the chest wall. Forty-seven patients (44%) had a pectus excavatum and 12 were treated with Acastello-Welch technique.
Results:
There were no intraoperative complications. After a mean follow up of 27 months, correction of the deformity was very satisfactory both objective and subjective for patients.
Conclusions:
The Welch thoracoplasty modified by Acastello is a good option for the correction of the pectus excavatum associating little morbidity and good esthetic outcomes.
