When is surgery needed for pectus excavatum?
The most common reason for pectus excavatum repair is to improve the appearance of the chest wall. Sometimes the deformity is so severe that it causes chest pain and affects breathing, largely in adults. Surgery is mostly done on children who are 12 to 16 years old, but not before age 6.
At what age is pectus excavatum surgery performed?
Background: The ideal time to operate on pectus excavatum (PE) using the Nuss procedure (NP) is between 12 and 18 years of age, because it is more difficult to bend the sternum of older patients and they have more pain and complications.
What is the best age for Nuss procedure?
What is the best age for a Nuss procedure? Children usually have this surgery as teenagers. Surgeons usually don't do this operation on children younger than 14 years old. There is no upper age limit.
How long is the surgery for pectus excavatum?
The surgery will take between 1 to 6 hours, depending on the method used for the surgery and your child's specific condition. Your child will stay in the hospital for about 3 to 7 days.
Can adults get Nuss procedure?
There have been ongoing modifications of the Nuss procedure to improve the results and eliminate complications, some of which have been life threatening. The Nuss procedure, while initially developed for children, can also be performed in adults.
Should you fix pectus excavatum?
Pectus excavatum can be surgically repaired, but surgery is usually reserved for people who have moderate to severe signs and symptoms. People who have mild signs and symptoms may be helped by physical therapy. Certain exercises can improve posture and increase the degree to which the chest can expand.
When does pectus excavatum stop worse?
The deformity of the chest wall is often noticed at birth, but becomes more pronounced in adolescents. After the age of 18 years, the deformity usually does not change anymore.
Can you play football after Nuss procedure?
Three months after surgery, patients can return to competitive sports; however, contact sports such as football, boxing, and wrestling are discouraged.
When is pectus excavatum a problem?
Severe cases of pectus excavatum can eventually interfere with the function of the heart and lungs. Pectus excavatum is a condition in which the person's breastbone is sunken into the chest. In severe cases, pectus excavatum can look as if the center of the chest has been scooped out, leaving a deep dent.
How painful is Nuss procedure?
The pectus repair is a painful procedure. Length of stay is dictated by postoperative pain management. Following the operation, most children stay in the hospital for approximately 5 days. An epidural catheter, placed in the back, will be used to give continuous pain medication.
What is the success rate of pectus excavatum surgery?
The outcomes of the repair were excellent in 504 patients, good in 105, fair in 28, poor in 2; good quality rate was 95.3%. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6 months and 1 year after surgery. The mean follow up time is 44.0±27.9 months (1-98 months).
Can pectus excavatum return after surgery?
Pectus excavatum (PE) can recur after both open and minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) techniques. The cause of recurrence may differ based on the initial repair procedure performed.