Cardiac Transplantation and Consecutive Minimally Invasive Pectus Excavatum Repair

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

• Pectus excavatum is a congenital chest wall anomaly characterized by sternal and rib inward deviation.
• The cardiopulmonary impact of pectus excavatum, including cardiac compression, is not fully understood and remains debated.
• Severe pectus excavatum can lead to significant hemodynamic alterations.

Observation:

• Two patients with severe pectus excavatum requiring cardiac transplantation were identified.
• These patients subsequently underwent modified minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair.
• The repair was performed due to persistent hemodynamic consequences attributed to the pectus deformity.

Findings:

• Cardiac transplantation was successfully performed in both cases.
• Modified minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair was feasible post-transplantation.
• The surgical approach addressed the chest wall defect while considering the cardiac allograft.

Implications:

• This approach highlights a potential surgical strategy for patients with pectus excavatum and severe cardiac compromise.
• Minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair may be a viable option after cardiac transplantation.
• Further research is warranted to evaluate the long-term outcomes and hemodynamic benefits of this combined approach.