Changes in Pulmonary Functions of Adolescents with Pectus Excavatum Throughout the Nuss Procedure

BackgroundWe aimed to determine the longitudinal changes in pulmonary functions of adolescents with Pectus Excavatum who underwent the Nuss procedure, the minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE).MethodsLung function measurements were performed before bar implantation (T₀), at least six weeks to ten months after implantation (T_1a), at least eleven months to sixty-one months after bar implantation (T_1b) and at least two weeks after bar explantation (T₂).ResultsData of 114 patients (83.3% male) whose median age at implantation was 15.6 years and at explantation 18.7 years were analyzed. Shortly after implantation at T_1a a significant decline of vital capacity (VC; n = 82), forced vital capacity (FVC; n = 78) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁; n = 80) compared to T₀ was seen. At T_1b a significant decline for the residual volume (RV; n = 83), the residual volume/total lung capacity ratio (RV/TLC; n = 81), the total specific airway resistance (sRaw; n = 80) and the total airway resistance (Raw; n = 84) also compared to T₀ was measured. In the comparison of T_1b to T₂ a significant increase of VC, FVC (n = 67), FEV₁ (n = 69), TLC (n = 67) and a significant decrease of Raw (n = 66), sRaw, RV (n = 65) and the RV/TLC (n = 64) ratio could be observed. In the direct analysis between T₀ and T₂, after the explantation of the bar a significant increase in VC (n = 54), FVC (n = 52), and TLC (n = 55) and a significant decrease of RV (n = 51) and the RV/TLC index (n = 50), and in airway resistance parameters like Raw (n = 52) and sRaw (n = 51) could be detected.ConclusionsLung function values along with markers of airway resistance improve in patients after the complete procedure of MIRPE.Level of EvidenceLevel II.