Modified Pectus Up and the Portuguese Case Series

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Surgery
• Congenital Abnormalities
• Minimally Invasive Techniques

Background:

• Pectus excavatum is the most common congenital chest wall deformity.
• Surgical correction methods vary based on deformity severity.
• Taulinoplasty, using Pectus Up®, offers an alternative sternal lift via external traction, avoiding mediastinal or pleural invasion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a progressively modified taulinoplasty technique (Pectus Up®).
• To evaluate the surgical outcomes and patient experience with this modified approach.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of the Pectus Up® technique in pectus excavatum correction.

Main Methods:

• A modified taulinoplasty (Pectus Up®) technique was applied to 13 pectus excavatum patients.
• Modifications included skin testing, vertical incision, 3D surgical guides, and partial chondrotomy.
• Preoperative data, surgical outcomes, and follow-up data were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Quality of life interference averaged 7.2/10, with fatigue on exertion being common (30.8%).
• No perioperative complications or mortality; 84.6% discharged on postoperative day 2.
• Median follow-up of 20 months showed low complication rates (allergy, infection), with high aesthetic satisfaction (8.6/10).

Conclusions:

• The modified taulinoplasty technique provides standardized, reproducible, and consistent outcomes.
• This approach appears to be a safe and effective therapeutic option for selected pectus excavatum patients.
• The Pectus Up® technique demonstrates potential for improved patient quality of life and aesthetic results.