Modified Nuss procedure with thoracoscope for repairing pectins excavatum in children:a report of 49 cases

Objective To summarize the experience of modified Nuss procedure with thoracoscope for the correction of pectus excavatum in children. Methods Forty-nine pediatric pectus excavatum were treated by modified Nuss procedure with thoracoscope from August 2006 to July 2008, the age ranged from 3 to 18 years, 36 patients were symmetric pectus excavatum and 13 patients were asymmetric pectus excavatum. Results The operations in all patients were successful. Only 1 case used two bars,other 48 cases used one bar. There were no major complications such as cardiac perforation occurred during the operation. The earlier complication was pneumatothorax in 1 case, and the average blood loss was less than 10 ml. The postoperative hospital length of stay was 6-8 days. All patients had a satisfied deformity correction and no needs of transfusion. Therapeutic results evaluation showed excellent in 43 patients and good in 6 patients. All patients were followed up in 0.5-23.0 months without bars displacement, 1 ease had chronic intermittent pain for 2 months. The bar had been removed in 1 case after operation 23 months who still kept in excellent result. Conclusions Modified Nuss procedure is easy to performed with minimal invasion and satisfied deformity correction. Thoracoscopic visualization facilitates the safety of this technique. Key words: Thoracic surgical procedures;  Funnel chest;  Thoracoscopes;  Child