Pulmonary function for pectus excavatum at long-term follow-up

PURPOSE: The aim of this article was to assess whether and to what extent pulmonary function recovered to normal degree postoperatively and to investigate the changes in pulmonary function after surgical correction and the value of surgical correction. METHODS: A total of 27 patients who could be questioned and examined in person at the outpatient department of our hospital were included in this study. Of these patents, 24 were boys and 3 were girls. Their ages ranged from 3 to 16 years (mean, 8.67) at follow-up. The mean age at surgery was 4 years, and mean years of follow-up was 6.8. Pulmonary functional measurements included in vital capacity (VC), total lung capacity (TLC), residual volume (RV), functional residual capacity (FRC), RV-TLC ratio, maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), force ventilatory capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximal midexpiratory flow curve (MMEF), maximal expiratory flow in 75% vital capacity (V75), maximal expiratory flow in 50% vital capacity (V50), maximal expiratory flow in 25% vital capacity (V25), and breathing reserve ratio (BR). RESULTS: TLC, FRC, MVV, MMEF, V75, and V50 values were not different from the normal values. IVC, FVC, FEV1, and V25 values were decreased significantly compared with the normal values. The RV and RV-TLC were high in 87.5% cases. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative symptoms obviously improved after operation. There was little airway obstruction in the patients postoperatively. The patients with pectus excavatum should be operated on as soon as possible.     

Epidural analgesia versus intravenous patient-controlled analgesia following minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background/Purpose

The minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair (MIPER) is a painful procedure. The ideal approach to postoperative analgesia is debated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of epidural analgesia compared to intravenous Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) following MIPER.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE (1946–2012) and the Cochrane Library (inception–2012) for randomized controlled trials (RCT) and cohort studies comparing epidural analgesia to PCA for postoperative pain management in children following MIPER. We calculated weighted mean differences (WMD) for numeric pain scores and summarized secondary outcomes qualitatively.

Results

Of 699 studies, 3 RCTs and 3 retrospective cohorts met inclusion criteria. Compared to PCA, mean pain scores were modestly lower with epidural immediately (WMD − 1.04, 95% CI − 2.11 to 0.03, p = 0.06), 12 hours (WMD − 1.12; 95% CI − 1.61 to − 0.62, p < 0.001), 24 hours (WMD − 0.51, 95%CI − 1.05 to 0.02, p = 0.06), and 48 hours (WMD − 0.85, 95% CI − 1.62 to − 0.07, p = 0.03) after surgery. We found no statistically significant differences between secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

Epidural analgesia may provide superior pain control but was comparable with PCA for secondary outcomes. Better designed studies are needed. Currently the analgesic technique should be based on patient preference and institutional resources.     

Surgical repair of pectus excavatum

From 1958 to March 1987 we corrected 704 patients with pectus excavatum. The condition occurred more frequently in boys (544 patients) than girls (160 patients). In the majority of patients (86%), the defect was evident at birth or within the first year of life. Musculoskeletal abnormalities were identified in 133 patients (scoliosis, 107; kyphosis, 4; myopathy, 3; Poland's syndrome, 3; Marfan's syndrome, 2; Pierre Robin syndrome, 2; prune belly syndrome, 2; neurofibromatosis, 3; cerebral palsy, 4; tuberous sclerosis, 1; and congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 2). Sixteen patients had associated congenital heart disease. A family history of chest wall deformity was present in 37% of the cases and a history of scoliosis in 11%. Surgical correction was performed using a uniform technique for bilateral subperichondrial resection of the deformed costal cartilages and sternal osteotomy resecting a wedge of the anterior cortex and fracturing the posterior cortex. Anterior displacement was maintained with silk sutures closing the osteotomy defect. In 28 early cases, the sternum was secured by intramedullary fixation with a Steinman pin. All repairs were completed with a low complication rate (4.4%; pneumothorax, 11; wound infection, 5; wound hematoma, 3; wound dehiscence, 5; pneumonia, 3; seroma, 1; hemoptysis, 1; hemopericardium, 1). Six complications were associated with Steinman pin fixation (hemoptysis, seroma, hemopericardium, pneumothorax, 3). Major recurrence occurred in 17 patients (2.7%) and led to revision in 12. Satisfactory long-term results were achieved in the remaining 687 patients, with follow-up ranging from 2 weeks to 27 years. Mean follow-up was 4.3 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Surgical repair of pectus excavatum

Pectus excavatum is the most common chest deformity. Children with severe deformities suffer physical complaints such as frequent respiratory infections and decreased endurance. Patients with even mild deformities may complain of physical and psychological symptoms after puberty. In most patients, cardiac and respiratory function deteriorates, meaning that surgical correction is important for alleviation of symptoms and improving cardiopulmonary function and quality of life. The methods of surgical repair remain controversial. The traditional method, first described by Ravitch, comprises resection of deformed cartilages and correction of the sternum by wedge osteotomy in the upper sternal cortex. Ravitch’s methods have been modified using autologous or exogenous materials to fix the lower sternum. Nuss reported a novel method in which neither an anterior wound nor the cutting of cartilage or sternum is required; instead, a convex metal bar is placed behind the sternum. We have reported sternocostal elevation, in which a section of costal cartilage is resected, and all of the cartilage stumps are resutured to the sternum. The secured ribs pull the sternum bilaterally, such that the resultant force causes the sternum to rise anteriorly. Because most pectus excavatum patients are young and maintain an acceptable quality of life preoperatively, we believe that the morbidity rate is one of the most important factors in selecting the method for corrective surgery. Repair can be performed safely through the use of skilled techniques and a deep understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the thorax.     

Hemopericardium: a late complication after repair of pectus excavatum.

Hemopericardium and tamponade occurred in a 12 year old boy with Marfan's syndrome, two years after surgical repair of pectus excavatum. This life-threatening complication resulted from penetration of a fractured metal plate through the pericardium into the right atrium. The clinical details are reported and discussed.     

Acquired thoracic scoliosis following minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum

The minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair as described by Nuss et al. is rapidly gaining acceptance as an effective method of repair of severe pectus excavatum deformities in the pediatric population. It potentially offers several advantages over previous techniques. The incidence of major complications of the procedure has been reduced by recent modifications including utilization of video-assisted thoracoscopy during placement of the Lorenz pectus bar as well as utilizing the pectus bar stabilizer that provides more rigid fixation of the strut. We report two cases of acquired thoracic scoliosis following minimally invasive repair of severe pectus excavatum deformity. This particular complication has not been reported in previous literature and warrants concern. In both cases the thoracic scoliosis slowly improved with physical therapy and range-of-motion exercises.     

Comparison of the Nuss and the Ravitch procedure for pectus excavatum repair: a meta-analysis

Purpose

Pectus excavatum is the most common chest wall deformity in children. Two procedures are widely applied—the Nuss and the Ravitch. Several comparative studies are published evaluating both procedures with inconsistent results. Our objective was to compare the Nuss procedure to the Ravitch procedure using systematic review and meta-analysis methodology.

Methods

All publications describing both interventions were sought through the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) database, MEDLINE, and EMBASE. The statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5 software. Odds ratios (OR) and weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals are presented.

Results

No randomized trials were identified. Nine prospective and retrospective studies were identified and were included in this study. There was no significant difference in overall complication rates between both techniques (OR, 1.75 (0.62-4.95); P = .30). Looking at specific complications, the rate of reoperation because of bar migration or persistent deformity was significantly higher in the Nuss group (OR, 5.68 (2.51-12.85); P = .0001). Also, postoperative pneumothorax and hemothorax were higher in the Nuss group (OR, 6.06 [1.57-23.48]; P = .009 and OR, 5.60 [1.00-31.33]; P = .05), respectively. Duration of surgery was longer with the Ravitch (WMD, 69.94 minutes (0.83-139.04); P = .05). There was no difference in length of hospital stay (WMD, 0.4 days (−2.05 to 2.86); P = .75) or time to ambulation after surgery (WMD, 0.33 days [−0.89 to 0.23]; P = .24). Among studies looking at patient satisfaction, there was no difference between both techniques.

Conclusions

Our results suggest no differences between the Nuss procedure vs the Ravitch procedure with respect to overall complications, length of hospital stay, and time to ambulation. However, the rate of reoperation, postoperative hemothorax, and pneumothorax after the Nuss procedure were higher compared to the Ravitch procedure. No studies showed a difference in patient satisfaction.     

Minimally invasive endoscopic repair of pectus excavatum.

OBJECTIVE: We report our initial 3 years 4 months' single institution experience in 31 consecutive patients with pectus excavatum treated with minimally invasive endoscopic pectus excavatum repair utilizing a modification of the 'Nuss' technique. METHODS: Under general anesthesia, a curved steel bar is individually shaped for each patient to match the ideal chest wall shape and is placed through an endoscopically created retrosternal tunnel between two bilateral midaxillary line 2-cm incisions. The tunnels initially go along the outside of the rib cage, under the pectoral muscles. At the level of the sternum, these tunnels go retrosternal and communicate with each other. The steel bar is passed with the convexity facing posteriorly, within a protective flat silastic drain. Under endoscopic guidance, the curved steel bar is passed through one tunnel, under the sternum, and out the other tunnel. Once positioned, the bar is turned over, thereby correcting the deformity. An epidural catheter provides perioperative pain relief. RESULTS: Minimally invasive endoscopic pectus excavatum repair has been performed on 31 patients (age: range 4.4-31.0 years, median 15.0 years, mean 14.5 years). Median hospital length of stay is 4 days (range 3-10 days, mean 4.6 days). Pneumothorax occurred in five patients requiring tube thoracostomy in three. One patient developed delayed bilateral pleural effusions requiring drainage. Two patients developed evidence of sterile seroma formation at the skin incision several months after minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum. These seromas resolved with non-interventional conservative medical treatment. No other complications occurred. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive endoscopic pectus repair is safe and effective and currently our procedure of choice for primary pectus excavatum in all ages. Endoscopic visualization facilitates the safe creation of the retrosternal tunnel. Short-term results have been excellent. Further follow-up will be necessary to determine long-term results.     

Postoperative pain following minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum: A descriptive study

BackgroundMinimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum (MIRPE) is associated with significant postoperative pain. The objective of our study was to characterize the severity and duration of this pain, and to investigate possible associations with pectus severity.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients who underwent MIRPE from January 2014 to April 2018. Pectus excavatum (PE) severity was determined with 3 indices measured from computed tomography: Depression Index (DI), Correction Index (CI), and Haller index (HI). Mean pain scores for every 6-hour period and the presence of pain and intake of analgesics during follow-up were extracted from the medical record.ResultsThe cohort included 57 patients with a mean age of 15.9 ± 1.3 years. All 3 severity indices were positively correlated, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 between the DI and CI. The requirement for 2 bars was significantly associated with higher indices (95% CI:0.18–0.63, p = 0.01). Pain was managed with thoracic epidural analgesia for all but one patient. Growth linear modeling identified five different pain trajectory subgroups of patients up to post-operative day 5. None of the tested predictors (age, gender, body image, physical activity level, DI, CI, HI, difference deformity-epidural level) were significantly associated with class membership. Persistent pain at one-year follow-up was present in 18% of patients, all with severe deformity (DI≥0.8).ConclusionPain trajectory and intensity after MIRPE can be classified into discrete patterns but are not influenced by PE severity. Severe deformity seems to predict persistent pain at one year.     

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum: a single institution's experience

BACKGROUND: The Nuss repair of pectus excavatum is a relatively new, minimally invasive surgical (MIS) alternative to the traditional open "Ravitch-type" operation. We have one of the larger single-center experiences to date, and we conducted this clinical study to evaluate our early experience, emphasizing initial outcome and technical modifications designed to minimize complications. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on 112 patients who underwent 116 pectus excavatum repairs between January 1995 and January 2001. The Nuss procedure was performed in 80 patients, and open repair was performed in 32 patients. Information about demographics, deformity, operative course, complications, and early outcome was recorded. RESULTS: Operative duration was 143 minutes for the open group and 53 minutes for the Nuss MIS group (P <.001). Blood loss was 6 mL/kg for the open group and 0.5 mL/kg for the MIS group (P <.001). Postoperative hospitalization was 3.2 days for the open group versus 3.7 days for the MIS group (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The MIS pectus repair can be performed safely with minimal blood loss and reduced operative time. Short-term analysis of the quality of repair, including absence of preoperative symptoms, patient satisfaction, and cosmetic appearance are encouraging.     

On the surgical treatment of pectus excavatum

80 cases of funnel chest were treated surgically, 9 by Gross procedure, 41 by turn-over technique and 30 by reverse "V" shape osteotomy of the sternum and ribs with internal fixation. There were 56 boys and 24 girls, with ages ranging from 2 to 14 years. The sternal depression varied in depth from 3 to 4 cm, and in volume from 20 to 120 ml. Roentgenographically, there were different extents of deviation of the heart to the left. Some patients had abnormal ECG. To study the results of operations, 48 cases were followed-up for 0.5 to 19 years. We found that the results of reverse "V" shape osteotomy of the sternum and ribs with internal fixation were superior to others. Its main advantage lies in the internal fixation which holds the sternum stable thus favoring wound healing and permanent correction. It is simple with less surgical trauma and postoperative complications. Some disappointing results in the other two techniques, such as uneven chest wall, flat chest and forward protruding of the sternum could also be avoided by this procedure. The internal fixation device was removed one year after operation. Follow-up for 3 to 4 years found the chest wall in satisfactory contour.     

Vascularized rib strut technique for repair of pectus excavatum.

A vascularized rib strut based on the anterior intercostal branch of the internal mammary artery was applied to provide rigid internal fixation of the chest wall after correction of pectus excavatum. The procedure is simple and has substantial advantages when compared with techniques using metallic struts or nonvascularized free rib grafts.     

Management of a floating sternum after repair of pectus excavatum

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the authors' experience with patients who have floating sternum after correction of pectus excavatum via the classical Ravitch procedure. A floating sternum is defined as a sternum in which the only attachment to the chest wall is its superior (cranial) border, and in which the body is secured only by the manubrium and whatever lateral and inferior fibrous bands are present. Typically, a floating sternum is caused by either extensive resection of the costal cartilages and perichondrium during correction of pectus excavatum or failure of proper regrowth of these cartilages. METHODS: The authors retrospectively assessed the charts of all patients diagnosed with a floating sternum noting age at original correction of pectus excavatum, time from original correction of pectus excavatum to diagnosis of floating sternum, age at correction of floating sternum, complaints before stabilization of the sternum, methods of repair, and postoperative complications. RESULTS: Between July 1993 and June 1999, floating sternum was diagnosed in 7 patients. The mean age of patients who underwent operative correction of a floating sternum was 28.9 years (range, 16 to 42 years). The mean time interval between original correction of pectus excavatum, or "redo," and diagnosis of a floating sternum was 9.9 years (range, 2 to 20 years). Complaints before correction of the floating sternum included sternal pain and instability, exercise intolerance, and difficulty breathing. Operative repair consisted of mobilizing the lateral and inferior edges of the sternum, detaching the fibrous perichondrium, performing anterior sternal osteotomies, and finally supporting the sternum with substernal Adkins struts. All 7 patients had successful stabilization of the sternum. Two of 7 patients underwent 2 procedures to successfully stabilize the sternum. One patient has Adkins struts still in place because of hematopoetic malignancy. Six of 7 patients are now without symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: A floating sternum is a morbid phenomenon that may manifest many years after the original procedure. It can cause significant sternal pain, chest wall instability, and respiratory dysfunction, which are the hallmark indications for correction. Repair of a floating sternum can be accomplished successfully.     

Noninvasive assessment of exercise cardiac function before and after pectus excavatum repair

Surgical correction of pectus excavatum frequently results in subjective improvement of exercise tolerance. Whether or not cardiac function improves after repair remains controversial and has primarily been limited to isolated case reports. The purpose of this investigation was to assess changes in cardiac function during rest and exercise associated with the surgical correction of this deformity. First-pass radionuclide studies during upright rest and bicycle exercise were performed on 13 patients before and at least 6 months after pectus excavatum repair. Operation did not change left ventricular ejection fraction or cardiac index at rest or during exercise. However, the left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and stroke volume index increased at rest after surgical correction. The estimated resting right ventricular end-diastolic volume also increased markedly after operation and was associated with a decrease in right ventricular ejection fraction. These data show no limitation in exercise cardiac function that could be relieved by pectus repair. However, the increase in right and left ventricular volume after operation suggests that some cardiac compression is relieved by operative repair.