Anesthesia for pectus excavatum

The incidence of arrhythmia, postoperative complication and pulmonary oxygenation (PaO2) were studied in 48 patients with pectus excavatum scheduled for the Ravitch operation under halothane-nitrous oxide-oxygen (GOF) and enflurane-nitrous oxide-oxygen (GOE) anesthesia. Preoperative abnormalities of ECG were observed in 36 of 18 cases. Main abnormalities were incomplete right bundle branch block, left atrium enlargement, and sinus arrhythmia. Ventricular arrhythmia was observed in 4 of 12 cases during GOF anesthesia, whereas no arrhythmia was observed during GOE anesthesia. In postoperative chest X-ray, pulmonary atelectasis (60%), pleural effusion (48%), and pneumothorax (8%) were observed. The results suggest that GOE is more advantageous for pectus excavatum operation than GOF. Postoperative pulmonary surveillance is important for pectus excavatum operation.     

Surgical correction of pectus excavatum

It has been observed that some patients who had correction of funnel chest deformity by methods which failed to provide fixed elevation of the involved sternal segment developed progressive sagging in later years in spite of looking good at the operating table. This has led to the adoption of a new technique of double sternal support. This procedure has resulted in 35 of 37 children (94%) being classified as excellent or satisfactory. This double support was initially established in 1959 by overlapping the upper transsected sternum while maintaining elevation of the lower end with a soft tissue sling of perichondrium and intercostal muscle. Beginning in 1961, a rigid bridge of rib or stainless steel bar was substituted at the lower end of the sternum. This has provided better support and the current preference of using the steel bar has been validated in this group of patients. The few disappointments were related to removal of the bar earlier than desired, failure to excise all the protruding sternal cartilage stumps or rib graft tips and inability to cover the lateral sternal edges with pectoral muscles. If possible, the steel bar should not be removed before 12 mo. When these pitfalls were avoided, the results were almost uniformly excellent. The wisdom of excising all depressed cartilaginous segments, as advocated by Ravitch in 1949,⁴ has been substantiated. A submammary transverse incision has provided an excellent cosmetic appearance. The morbidity has been low and the mortality zero.In spite of the absence of objective evidence of cardiopulmonary dysfunction, there seems to be an almost uniform improvement in appearance and in patient activity following successful correction of the funnel chest. The latter may be as much a psychological response as a physiologic one. The low morbidity, satisfactory long term results, and general improvement in the patient's body image and outlook on life indicate the need to offer correction of the severe pectus excavatum deformity to low risk children.     

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.     

Current management of pectus excavatum

Abstract Pectus excavatum (PE) is one of the most common anomalies of childhood. It occurs in approximately 1 in every 400 births, with males afflicted 5 times more often than females. PE is usually recognized in infancy, becomes much more severe during adolescent growth years, and remains constant throughout adult life. Symptoms are infrequent during early childhood, but become increasingly severe during adolescent years with easy fatigability, dyspnea with mild exertion, decreased endurance, pain in the anterior chest, and tachycardia. The heart is deviated into the left chest to varying degrees causing reduction in stroke volume and cardiac output. Pulmonary expansion is confined, causing a restrictive defect. Repair is recommended for patients who are symptomatic and who have a markedly elevated pectus severity index as determined by chest X-ray or computed tomography scan. Repair using the highly modified Ravitch technique is usually performed after the age of 8 years. The optimal age for repair is between 12 and 16 years. Repair can be performed on adults with similar good results. Recent modifications in the Ravitch technique remove minimal cartilage and routinely use a temporary internal support bar for 6 months. Operation rarely takes more than 3 hours, and hospitalization rarely exceeds 3 days. Pain is mild and complications are rare, with 97% of patients experiencing a good to excellent result. The new minimally invasive Nuss repair avoids cartilage resection and takes less operating time, but is associated with more severe pain, longer hospitalization and a higher complication rate, with the bar remaining for 2 or more years. This technique is less applicable to older patients and those with asymmetric deformities. Long-term follow-up will be necessary to determine which operation may be best for any specific patient. Electronic Publication     

Surgical treatment of pectus excavatum

In conclusion, the following points are reemphasized: 1) The abnormal (either depressed or protruding) cartilages should always be resected. This resection, especially in pectus excavatum abnormalities, should not be overdone because the highest point that the chest wall and sternum can be elevated to with these types of operations is only the level of the most anterior rib and the thickness of the sternum itself. 2) Marlex mesh is an ideal material to support the sternum in its corrected position. It is strong and holds well until the chest wall solidifies. Also, it is resistant to infection and it may be left in place permanently. The application of different metallic splints, rods, and so on, as well as costal allografts, was found to be absolutely unnecessary. 3) Intercostal strips detached from the sternum may be left in place. Also, the surgeon should not waste time in performing a meticulous "classic" subperichondrial resection of the cartilages and ribs but should just leave enough perichondrium and periosteum behind to ensure the regeneration of the ribs. For the same reason, a segment of the most lateral portion of the cartilage should be left in continuity with the ribs. 4) It is strongly recommended that in excavatum anomalies, one of the pleural cavities should be deliberately opened and wide communication established between the pleural and the retrosternal space; the entire operative area should be drained for a day or two using an intracostal water-sealed catheter. This will make the use of any other subcutaneous or mediastinal drainage devices unnecessary and will ensure appropriate drainage of blood or serum. It is also recommended that the resection of the cartilages should be done on the left side first, where inadvertent entering of the pleura is less likely because of the backing of the pericardium. If it happens, drainage of the right hemithorax is not necessary. Carinatum anomalies are handled with subcutaneous drainage. 5) To confirm appropriate results, the chest should be carefully inspected after closure of the skin, and flaws, if they exist, should be corrected right then. Also, surgical repair of all pectus anomalies, especially excavatum deformities, should be supplemented in due time with an appropriate exercise program. Swimming and weight lifting are especially useful. 6) We found that the age limit imposed on small children by some authors is unnecessary, and as a matter of fact it is preferable to operate on children at an early age, around 2 years, because of commonly existing psychologic problems at a later age. The author advises restraint in operating on individuals past the teenage years unless the deformity is physiologically restricting. 7) The jury is still out regarding procedures using limited exposure and that do not use transverse sternotomy to correct the depressed or elevated sternal axis. 8) The usage of cosmetic procedures, or in other words, operations that do not correct the anomaly of the bony chest wall but use various implants as camouflage, should be restricted to cases of moderate excavatum anomalies in late teenage patients and to adults without cardiorespiratory symptoms.     

Scoliosis in children with pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum

Between 1974 and 1985, 461 patients with pectus excavatum and 135 patients with pectus carinatum underwent operative repair of their anterior chest wall deformities. Twenty-one percent of patients with anterior chest wall deformity had mild scoliosis by clinical and radiographic examination. The average lateral spinal deformity was 15 degrees (range 6-78 degrees) for pectus excavatum patients and 16 degrees (range 5-57 degrees) for pectus carinatum patients. Eighteen percent of the pectus excavatum patients with scoliosis and 14% of the pectus carinatum patients with scoliosis required therapeutic intervention of bracing and/or arthrodesis.     

Xiphoid horn in pectus excavatum

In pectus excavatum there may be a cartilaginous horn on the inner surface of the xiphoid process rubbing on the heart, or the xiphoid process may be tipped inward, rubbing on the heart and causing anginoid pain. Being cartilaginous, these protrusions of the xiphoid cartilage are not visible on preoperative radiographs. Eight per cent of pectus excavatum patients have organic heart disease (Reusch, 1961). Funnel chest may cause anginoid pain (Poppe, 1965) which can be relieved surgically.     

Complications of surgery for pectus excavatum

The article describes the various acute and late complications of surgery for pectus excavatum. Because the acute complications are well known and easily managed and the late complications can be prevented, operative correction of pectus excavatum can be recommended to parents and their children with severe deformities with very little risk and a realistic expectation of good long-term correction.     

Reactive pectus carinatum in patients treated for pectus excavatum

Purpose

The Ravitch and minimally invasive Nuss procedures have brought widespread relief to children with pectus excavatum, chest wall deformities, over the last half century. Generally accepted long-term complications of pectus excavatum repair are typically limited to recurrence of the excavatum deformity or persistent pain. This study examines the authors' experience with patients who develop a subsequent carinatum deformity within 1 year of pectus excavatum repair.

Methods

The authors retrospectively assessed the charts of all patients diagnosed as having a carinatum deformity subsequent to treatment for pectus excavatum at a tertiary urban hospital. We noted age at original correction of pectus excavatum, time from original correction to diagnosis of carinatum deformity, age at correction of carinatum deformity, complaints before correction, methods of repair, postoperative complications, and we reviewed relevant radiography.

Results

Three patients who underwent pectus excavatum repair between January 2000 and August 2007 developed a subsequent carinatum deformity. Two patients initially underwent minimally invasive Nuss correction of pectus excavatum; 1 patient underwent the Ravitch procedure. Within 1 year of original correction and despite intraoperative achievement of neutral sternal position, a protruding anterior chest deformity resembling de novo pectus carinatum emerged in each patient; we term this condition reactive pectus carinatum. The mean age of patients undergoing initial pectus excavatum repair was 13 years (range, 11-16 years). The pathophysiology of this reactive lesion is not well understood but is thought to originate from reactive fibroblastic stimulation as a result of sternal manipulation and bar placement. Patients who underwent Nuss correction initially were managed with early bar removal. Two of the patients eventually required surgical resection of the carinatum deformity at a time interval of 3 to 6 years after initial excavatum repair. In one patient, the carinatum deformity resolved spontaneously. Neutral chest position and absence of dyspenic symptoms were achieved in all patients.

Conclusions

Reactive pectus carinatum is functionally encumbering and a poor cosmetic complication of either the Ravitch or minimally invasive Nuss procedures. Our experience with reactive pectus carinatum introduces the importance of postoperative vigilance even in patients without underlying fibroelastic disease. Examination of the chest with attention to the possibility of an emerging carinatum deformity, particularly in the first 6 postoperative months, is paramount. A telephone call to the patient at 3 months may be a useful adjunct to clinic visits. An optimal long-term result may be achieved through a combination of early Nuss bar removal or postpubertal pectus carinatum repair.     

Endoscopic correction of pectus excavatum.

Pectus excavatum has been most commonly corrected by either the sternal elevation or turnover methods. Both of these procedures require a long skin incision in the anterior chest wall. Endoscopic techniques have been introduced into the treatment of pectus excavatum since 1994 to minimize the skin incision to approximately 1 inch. Thirty patients with pectus excavatum (25 men and 5 women) underwent surgery employing the centimeter incision method assisted by the endoscope. The mean age at the time of surgery was 11.9 years (range, 4-45 years). The patients were classified as having one of three types of pectus excavatum: Type I (symmetrical and localized) was seen in 18 patients (60%), type II (symmetrical and diffuse) was seen in 5 patients (17%), and type III (localized or diffuse but asymmetrical) was seen in 7 patients (23%). Although the results of the thoracic cage correction achieved using our procedure were excellent overall, the results were best for type I, with clear improvement achieved in the funnel index-0.48 to 0.63. All of the patients recovered well without any severe complications, and both the patients and their families found the results obtained using this method to be quite satisfactory, especially because of the minimal postoperative scar.