Symmetrical excessive pectus excavatum in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Cardiopulmonary Function

Background:

• Indications for pectus excavatum repair remain debated.
• Severe pectus excavatum can impact cardiorespiratory function in children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate surgical outcomes in children with severe pectus excavatum.
• To assess the impact of surgical repair on pulmonary function and cardiac function.

Main Methods:

• 27 children (6-15 years) with severe pectus excavatum underwent surgical repair.
• Surgical technique involved subperichondrial resection of deformed cartilages and Kirchner wire support.
• Pulmonary function tests and chest measurements were performed pre- and postoperatively.

Main Results:

• Surgery significantly improved the pectus severity index and pulmonary function, particularly in children with restricted lung function.
• Asthma-like symptoms resolved postoperatively in 3 patients; no patients experienced chest pain.
• Significant increases in right and left ventricular function were observed in cases of severe deformity. Kirchner wires were removed after 5 days with minor complications.

Conclusions:

• Surgical repair of severe pectus excavatum offers benefits beyond cosmetic improvement, enhancing cardiorespiratory capacity.
• The Kirchner wire technique is a safe and effective method for stabilizing the chest cage during pectus excavatum repair.