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Symptomatic pectus deformities of the chest
The American Review of Respiratory Disease
|September 1, 1982
Summary
Pectus deformities can cause exercise limitation due to a dynamic restrictive pulmonary process. This impacts breathing during exertion, even when lung function tests appear normal.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Pectus deformities are chest wall abnormalities that can affect respiratory function.
- Exercise limitation is a common complaint in patients with pectus deformities, but its physiological basis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate pulmonary mechanics and exercise tolerance in young males with pectus deformities.
- To identify the physiological mechanisms underlying exercise limitation in these patients.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated pulmonary function tests (lung volumes, airway obstruction, lung compliance) in 8 male patients with pectus deformities.
- Assessed exercise tolerance, including tidal volume and oxygen uptake at various work loads, in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
Main Results:
- Pulmonary mechanics tests did not fully explain symptoms; lung volumes were mildly reduced, with no airway obstruction or abnormal compliance.
- Exercise studies revealed diminished tidal volume during maximal effort (suggesting ventilation restriction) in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.
- Symptomatic patients showed elevated oxygen uptake at higher work loads, indicating an increased work of breathing during vigorous exertion.
Conclusions:
- Respiratory symptoms in some patients with pectus deformities have a physiological basis.
- A dynamic restrictive pulmonary process is suggested as the explanation for exercise limitation in these patients.
- These findings highlight the importance of exercise testing in evaluating pectus deformity patients with exercise intolerance.