[Effect of correcting funnel chest on respiratory function]

The authors discuss the results of pulmonary function tests performed at rest in 25 patients treated for pectus excavatum. Surgical correction of the lesion was performed by resection of the deformed costal cartilages, longitudinal and transversal sternotomy, stabilization of the anterior chest wall with Kirschner wires. Control tests carried out 6 months following the surgical correction. In cases of severe deformation of the chest wall a decrease of pulmonary function indices was evident. Following the surgical correction all spirometric indices increased.